Schizostachyum
brachycladum

To select a bamboo, first decide on the height and shape you desire in your setting. Relatively large upright bamboos such as the magnificent culinary and structural bamboo Bambusa oldhamii with its very straight potentially 18 metres high 10cm diameter culms, or the beautiful slightly smaller Schizostachyum brachycladum or Thyrostachys siamensis ("Monastery Bamboo")will take up less ground space even after 10 years than the beautiful Bambusa multiplex cv "Golden Goddess", whose outwardly weeping culms will never exceed 1.5cm diameter and 3 or 4 meters in length under ideal conditions.

At this point you need to consult our catalogue descriptions or the Species Reference Web-page. If you want a large bamboo for a limited yard space, select a relatively upright species (there are many) and it will not inconvenience your neighbours by leaning over the fence! If you have the space, a beautiful willowy giant, or dwarf species, will be spectacular.

After selecting a species of the size and shape to suit your needs, check the LOW TEMPERATURE MINIMUM on your site to eliminate those not suited to your area. Then consider aesthetics like form, leaf size and shape, and colour. Also look at possible future uses you may have, such as eating quality, timber quality for buildings, furniture, screen or fence construction, garden stakes or fishing rods, weaving or basket making, musical instruments, etc. By now you will have eliminated or selected to a point where your choice is easier. (or just give up and buy them all as we did!).

Then RING US. We will check your choice and advise you.