Black Bamboo
 

Hi Ive been wanting some black bamboo does anybody have some for sale or trade??

Re: Black Bamboo
 

I've got some of the regular and a larger variety. The larger variety gets up to 50' or so and 4" in diameter. The regular I think tops out around 25' and 2" in diameter. What have you got to trade? You can email me at robgarren@hotmail.com. Thanks!
If you've got any Musa 'Thai Black' that would be awesome!

Re: Black Bamboo
 

So you have 2 kinds of black bamboo? Do you have any pics of it?

I don't have any pics...but the larger form is 'daikokuchiku' and turns black faster. It starts to turn black immediately and takes about a year to totally turn black. The regular variety takes about two years to turn black. There is a link to a photo I took in the thread below:

Here's a link to a photo that I provided to a website (I didn't get the photo credit, but it is a photo that I took of my black bamboo).

Phyllostachys nigra"Black Bamboo" | Tejas Tropicals
This photo is of the larger variety ('daikokuchiku') but this guy is selling the regular form so it doesn't mention the variety. The guy I bought the 'daikokuchiku' from has it listed as growing to 50' with a 3" diameter and taking down to 0F. Size does depend on zone and might not get that big in zone 6, but the mother grove is in zone 7 and is pretty impressive. I really think his culms are actually closer to 4".

Re: Black Bamboo
 

I will personally vouch for Rob's bamboo... He and I are great friends and live within about 15 miles from each other. His bamboo is impressive and if I had the room at my place, I would be all over any of the ones he has. I HIGHLY recommend him for all his plants!

Re: Black Bamboo
 

The regular P Nigra suffers no leaf loss at all in zone 6 given plastic tarp protection and it puts out a decent size increase afterwards, but if it was unprotected it would probably get complete leaf loss and some top kill.

If this is the first bamboo you're trying out I would suggest getting a hardier species such as Parvifolia, spectabilis, or atrovaginata.

The P Nigra henon which is supposed to be hardier than the regular type gets about half of its leaves burned in the winter, but that one was exposed. If you don't mind tarping your bamboo every winter, then go ahead and get it. I've been successful growing moso in zone 6, and got a moso bicolor this year which I will probably triple tarp + milk jugs filled with water so it is possible to grow marginal species with the appropiate protection.

Here's some of the shoots from a 5 gallon P Nigra-regular black type

Re: Black Bamboo
 

I emailed you the other day about the bamboo...I was in a hurry and forgot to put in a subect. Just wanted to let you know so you wouldnt think it was spam...

Re: Black Bamboo
 

Oops...I always trash anything without anything in the subject line. Please re-send with "Black Bamboo" or something in the subject line. Thanks!