Bambusa oldhamii Ryoku-Chiku PFAF Plant Database

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Bambusa oldhamii - Munro.

Common Name

Ryoku-Chiku

Family

Poaceae or Gramineae

Synonyms

Known Hazards

None known

Habitats

Not known

Range

E. Asia - China, Taiwan.

Edibility Rating

Medicinal Rating

Care

Summary

Physical Characteristics

Bambusa oldhamii is an evergreen Bamboo growing to 6 m (19ft 8in).
It is hardy to zone 9. It is in leaf 12-Jan It is in flower from Jul to October. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Wind.

Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stan_Shebs

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stan_Shebs

Habitats
Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge;

Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Stem. Edible Uses: Young shoots - cooked[183, 195].

Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally. None known

Other Uses
Wood. The cane walls are thick but rather soft. The canes are used as a source of pulp[195].

Cultivation details

Requires a humus rich soil in full sun or dappled shade in warm humid conditions[200]. Plants are not very hardy in Britain, they do not tolerate prolonged exposure to temperatures below -5°c[200]. They can succeed outdoors in a woodland in the mildest areas of the country. This species is notably resistant to honey fungus[200]. Plants only flower at intervals of many years. When they do come into flower most of the plants energies are directed into producing seed and consequently the plant is severely weakened. They sometimes die after flowering, but if left alone they will usually recover though they will look very poorly for a few years. If fed with artificial NPK fertilizers at this time the plants are more likely to die[122].

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. 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].

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Expert comment

Author
Munro.

Botanical References
200266

Links / References

[122]? The Plantsman. Vol. 1. 1979 - 1980.

Excerpts from the periodical giving cultivation details and other notes on some of the useful plants. A good article on the flowering of bamboos.

[183]Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.

Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.

[195]Farrelly. D. The Book of Bamboo

Very readable, giving lots of information on the uses of bamboos, both temperate and tropical.

[200]Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.

Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

Readers comment

Elizabeth H.
Eduardo Duarte	Fri Jun 20 2008

bambusa oldhamii I need find seeds

Elizabeth H.
Michael (SW Ireland)	Wed Apr 22 2009

Does anyone know of a source for Bambusa oldhamii within the EU? The Bambouseraie Prafrance have them, but will not sell retail. I would be happy with a piece of rhizome.

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