Common Name:

General Information

Yushania crassicollis is an evergreen bamboo, spreading by rhizomes to form a wide cluster of erect, woody stems around 3 - 5 metres tall. The stems are thin walled, around 10 - 25mm in diameter and with internodes 15 - 24cm long[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of material for weaving.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - southern China (western Yunnan)

Habitat

At elevations from 2,400 - 2,600 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Bamboo
Height	4.00 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Yushania species are native from the warm temperate zone to the tropics in eastern Asia, usually growing at moderate elevations. Many of them are fairly frost-tolerant and can be suitable for growing outdoors in the milder areas of the temperate zone[, , , ].
Bamboos generally grow best in a sunny or moderately sunny position in a well-drained, fertile, open loam of reasonable quality with plenty of moisture in the growing season[]. They require a position sheltered from cold or strong winds[].
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[].
The rootstock is running, new shoots are produced from late spring to early summer, the plant forming a spreading clump of stems[].
Bamboo species are usually notably resistant to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

Young shoots, harvested as they emerge from the ground[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The stems are split and used for weaving various items[[].

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 the seedlings are large enough to plant out, which could take a few years. Seed is rarely available.
Division in late spring[]. Best done as the new shoots first appear above ground[]. 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[].