Common Name: Moso-Chiku

General Information

Phyllostachys edulis is an evergreen bamboo that can grow 20 metres or more tall; the erect, woody culms can be up to 200mm in diameter with thin-walled internodes 40cm or more long[]. The rhizomes are elongated, the plant having a running habit that can produce new canes some distance from the main clump, especially in warm climates. This tendency to run, however, is somewhat curtailed in cooler climates, where new shoot production can be rather reduced.
This is the most economically important bamboo in China, widely cultivated for its versatile culms and delicious shoots. It is also cultivated as a food crop in Japan, and is widely grown as an ornamental[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - central, southern and eastern China.

Habitat

Woodland[]. Mountain slopes; at elevations up to 1,600 metres, perhaps more[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Bamboo
Height	8.00 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Phyllostachys edulis is a fairly cold-hardy plant, able to tolerate short-lived temperatures down to about -15°c according to one report[]. It dislikes prolonged exposure to hard frosts[], however, and plants are slow to recover from any damage caused by cold weather[].
Likes abundant sunshine[]. Requires a rich damp soil in a sheltered position[] with plenty of moisture in the growing season[].
Plants grow well in Cornwall, England making a very good sized clump. The young shoots are very fast growing, up to 30cm per day[], and are produced from late April[]. The rootstock is running but it is practically static in cool climates[].
This species is notably resistant to honey fungus[].
Young plants can be difficult to establish, new plantings only grow slowly at first and often fail completely if soil and water conditions are less than the best[].
This species, but especially its cultivar 'Pubescens'[] is extensively cultivated for its edible young shoots and other uses in China and Japan[, , ], it is the most commonly cultivated bamboo in China and the second most common in Japan[].
Bamboos have an interesting method of growth. Each plant produces a number of new stems annually - these stems grow to their maximum height in their first year of growth, subsequent growth in the stem being limited to the production of new side branches and leaves. In the case of some mature tropical species the new stem could be as much as 30 metres tall, with daily increases in height of 30cm or more during their peak growth time. This makes them some of the fastest-growing species in the world[].
Bamboos in general are usually monocarpic, living for many years before flowering, then flowering and seeding profusely for a period of 1 - 3 years before usually dying. This pattern can vary - sometimes flowering is sporadic, with plants flowering annually and not dying; at other times it is gregarious with all the plants in a specific species coming into flower at the same time.

Edible Uses

Young shoots - cooked[, , ]. Very palatable when cooked but acrid raw[, , ]. Not of the highest quality, but their large size makes them very popular[]. Extensively eaten in China, they are usually cooked in one change of water[]. The shoots are harvested in the spring when they are about 8cm above the ground, cutting them about 5cm below soil level. The dormant young shoots, harvested in the winter before they emerge above the ground, are especially relished as a delicacy[, ].

Medicinal

The leaves are used in the treatment of arthritic inflammations[].

The sheaths of the stem are used in the treatment of nausea and sour stomach[].

Agroforestry Uses:

This is a good companion species to grow in a woodland because the plants have shallow root systems that do not compete with deep tree roots[].

Other Uses

The canes make good water pipes[], they are also used for household utensils etc[]. The short internodes at the lower end of the cane are used as flasks, vases etc[]. Although the wood is relatively soft, the canes are much used for heavy construction, weaving various types of handicrafts and paper making[].
The rhizomes are used as walking sticks and umbrella handles.

Propagation

Seed - surface sow as soon as it is ripe in a greenhouse at about 20°c. Do not allow the compost to dry out. Germination usually takes place fairly quickly so long as the seed is of good quality, though it can take 3 - 6 months. Grow on in a lightly shaded place in the greenhouse until large enough to plant out. Seed is rarely available.
Division in spring as new growth commences. Divisions from the open ground do not transplant well, so will need careful treatment and nurturing under cover in pots until at least late spring[]. Division is best carried out in wet weather and small divisions will establish better than large clumps[]. Another report says that you can take large divisions from established clumps and transfer them straight to their permanent positions, misting or drenching them frequently until they are established[].
Basal cane cuttings in spring.