Common Name:

General Information

Phyllostachys kwangsiensis is an evergreen bamboo that can grow 8 - 16 metres tall; the erect, woody culms are 40 - 100mm in diameter with thin-walled internodes around 35cm 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.
The plant is harvested from the wild, and also cultivated in Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang, as a source of material for making furniture, weaving etc.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - southern China (Guangxi)

Habitat

Broadleaved forests[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Bamboo
Height	12.00 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Phyllostachys kwangsiensis is native to the subtropical regions of southern China, though it is also cultivated further north in the warm temperate zone[].
Succeeds in full sun and in partial shade. Species in this genus generally tolerate a wide range of soils and sites, though they prefer a damp humus-rich soil in sun or semi-shade[, , ]. They grow best in a position sheltered from cold winds[]. Plants are generally not very tolerant of dry conditions[].
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

None known

Medicinal

None known

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 tough, compact culms have internodes long and even in length. They are used unsplit for furniture and building materials and split for weaving various articles[].

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.