Common Name: Okame-Zasa

General Information

Shibataea kumasasa is an evergreen bamboo that can grow 100 - 150cm tall; the erect, woody culms are 3 - 5mm in diameter with thick-walled internodes. 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.
Often grown as an ornamental, the plant can be used as a ground cover.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

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Range

E. Asia - southeast China, Japan.

Habitat

Mountain slopes[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Bamboo
Height	1.00 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Shibataea kumasasa is a very hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to about -23°c[].
Requires a damp shaded site in a humus rich soil[]. New growth in spring will be badly impaired if the plants are allowed to become dry[].
This species is notably resistant to honey fungus[].
This species looks very different to most bamboos, in appearance it is more like the butcher's broom (Ruscus aculeatus).
The rootstock is running but not aggressively so in cooler climates, it forms a slowly spreading compact clump in Britain[].
New shoots are produced from early spring[].
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:

A useful ground cover for shady places, it is best planted about 60cm apart[].

Other Uses

None known

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. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a lightly shaded place in the greenhouse until large enough to plant out, which could take 3 years or so. 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[].
Basal cane cuttings.
Rhizome cuttings.