Pleioblastus fortunei
(Van Houtte) Nakai
Poaceae
Arundarbor fortunei (Van Houtte) Kuntze
Arundarbor pygmaea (Miq.) Kuntze
Arundinaria fortunei (Van Houtte) Rivière
Arundinaria oroshimozasa R.Stover
Arundinaria pygmaea (Miq.) Makino
Arundinaria shibuyana (Makino ex Nakai) R.Stover
Arundinaria uyenoensis (Nakai) R.Stover
Arundinaria variabilis Makino ex M.Vilm.
Arundinaria variabilis fortunei (Van Houtte) Houz.
Arundinaria variabilis glabra Ohwi
Arundinaria variabilis pygmaea (Miq.) Makino
Arundinaria variabilis variegata Makino
Arundinaria variegata Makino
Bambusa fortunei Van Houtte
Bambusa maximowiczii Munro
Bambusa picta Siebold & Zucc. ex Munro
Bambusa pygmaea Miq.
Bambusa variegata Siebold ex Miq.
Nipponocalamus dimorphophyllus (Koidz.) Nakai
Nipponocalamus fortunei (Van Houtte) Nakai
Nipponocalamus pygmaeus (Miq.) Nakai
Nipponocalamus ramosissimus (Nakai) Nakai
Nipponocalamus shibuyanus (Makino ex Nakai) Nakai
Nipponocalamus tosaensis (Koidz.) Nakai
Nipponocalamus tsukubensis (Nakai) Nakai
Nipponocalamus uyenoensis (Nakai) Nakai
Nipponocalamus yasuianus (Koidz.) Nakai
Pleioblastus argenteostriatus glaber (Makino) Murata
Pleioblastus chino tsukubensis (Nakai) Muroi
Pleioblastus dimorphophyllus Koidz.
Pleioblastus distichus tsuboi (Makino ex I.Tsuboi) Muroi & H.Okamura
Pleioblastus pubescens (Makino) Nakai
Pleioblastus pygmaeus (Miq.) Nakai
Pleioblastus ramosissimus Nakai
Pleioblastus shibuyanus Makino ex Nakai
Pleioblastus tectus Koidz.
Pleioblastus tosaensis Koidz.
Pleioblastus tsukubensis Nakai
Pleioblastus uyenoensis Nakai
Pleioblastus variegatus Makino
Pleioblastus yasuianus Koidz.
Pleioblastus yoshidake Nakai
Pleioblastus ystrophyllus Koidz.
Pseudosasa variegata Nakai
Sasa fortunei (Van Houtte) Fiori
Sasa pygmaea (Miq.) Rehder
Sasa variegata E.G.Camus
Common Name: Dwarf Fern-Leaf Bamboo
General Information
Pleioblastus fortunei is an evergreen bamboo that can grow 60 - 120cm tall; the erect, woody culms have a zigzag habit, they are 2 - 6mm in diameter with thin-walled internodes 10 - 30cm long. The rhizomes are elongated, the plant having a vigorously running habit that can produce new canes some distance from the main clump, especially in warm climates.
The plant is grown as an ornamental, where it is used as a ground cover.
Pleioblastus fortunei is abundant and often dominant in the forest understorey and tolerates abandoned and disturbed areas. It seems to be highly adaptable and resilient to stresses and occurs with several conservation units. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
A very aggressive spreading plant and very difficult to eradicate. It has escaped from cultivation and become naturalized in countries such as China and New Zealand[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
]. Very difficult to control, it even survives mowing[
195- Title
- The Book of Bamboo
- Publication
-
- Author
- Farrelly. D.
- Publisher
- Sierra Club.
- Year
- 1984
- ISBN
- 0-87156-825-X
- Description
- Very readable, giving lots of information on the uses of bamboos, both temperate and tropical.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
Range
E. Asia - central and southern Japan.
Habitat
Carpets the floors of forests[
195- Title
- The Book of Bamboo
- Publication
-
- Author
- Farrelly. D.
- Publisher
- Sierra Club.
- Year
- 1984
- ISBN
- 0-87156-825-X
- Description
- Very readable, giving lots of information on the uses of bamboos, both temperate and tropical.
]. Forming dense thickets in its native range, it is often dominant as woodland understorey or in abandoned fields[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Properties
Weed Potential | Yes |
Conservation Status | Least Concern |
Other Uses Rating | |
Habit | Evergreen Bamboo |
Height | 0.80 m |
Growth Rate | Fast |
Pollinators | Wind |
Cultivation Status | Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Pleioblastus fortunei is a very hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to about -25°c.
Although it succeeds in full sun, it grows best with some shade, being very tolerant of deep shade[
25- Title
- Bamboos.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Lawson.
- Publisher
- Faber
- Year
- 1968
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Fairly comprehensive, it was once the standard work but is now rather dated. Deals with species hardy in Britain, giving cultivation details and some uses.
]. Succeeds in most soils[
25- Title
- Bamboos.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Lawson.
- Publisher
- Faber
- Year
- 1968
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Fairly comprehensive, it was once the standard work but is now rather dated. Deals with species hardy in Britain, giving cultivation details and some uses.
] but prefers a good loamy soil in a sheltered position in semi-shade[
1- Title
- RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
- Publication
-
- Author
- F. Chittendon.
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Year
- 1951
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
]. Prefers a soil on the acidic side[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
]. Prefers a position sheltered from cold winds[
11- Title
- Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bean. W.
- Publisher
- Murray
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
]. Dislikes drought[
1- Title
- RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
- Publication
-
- Author
- F. Chittendon.
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Year
- 1951
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
].
A number of forms have been selected for their ornamental value[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. The leaf margins wither in winter to give a variegated effect.
This species is notably resistant to honey fungus[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Bamboos have an interesting method of growth. Each plant produces a number of new stems annually -usually in the spring and early summer, and these stems grow to their maximum height in their first two to three months. Any subsequent growth in the stem is limited to the production of new side branches and leaves.
Temperate bamboo species usually grow for many years without flowering. When they do finally flower it is not unusual for all the plants of that species in the region to also flower. They do so profusely over a period of 1 - 3 years and will often then die, probably from exhaustion. Some species, if given plenty of organic matter at this time will gradually recover, although they will look rather poorly for a year or three. If fed with artificial NPK fertilizers at this time the plants are more likely to die[
122- Title
- The Plantsman. Vol. 1. 1979 - 1980.
- Publication
-
- Author
- ?
- Publisher
- Royal Horticultural Society
- Year
- 1979
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Excerpts from the periodical giving cultivation details and other notes on some of the useful plants. A good article on the flowering of bamboos.
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
None known
Agroforestry Uses:
A useful ground cover plant and soil stabilizer in the right situation[
195- Title
- The Book of Bamboo
- Publication
-
- Author
- Farrelly. D.
- Publisher
- Sierra Club.
- Year
- 1984
- ISBN
- 0-87156-825-X
- Description
- Very readable, giving lots of information on the uses of bamboos, both temperate and tropical.
]. It needs an area with lots of space for it to roam at will. It sould only be used for these purposes within its native range because of its propensity to escape from cultivation and invade other habitats.
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed - if possible, surface sow the seed as soon as it is ripe in a greenhouse at about 20°c. Stored seed should be sown as soon as it is received. 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. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a lightly shaded place in the greenhouse or cold frame until they are large enough to plant out, which could be a number of years. The plants only flower at intervals of several years and so seed is rarely available.
Division in spring as new growth commences. Take divisions with at least three canes in the clump, trying to cause as little root disturbance to the main plant as possible. Grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse in pots of a high fertility sandy medium. Mist the foliage regularly until plants are established. Plant them out into their permanent positions when a good root system has developed, which can take a year or more[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Basal cane cuttings.
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