Phyllostachys bambusoides 'All Gold' ('Holochrysa')

Phyllostachys bambusoides 'All Gold' ('Holochrysa')
Above left - The golden culms seen here are growing beside a stream in the Carribean Home From Home garden, in a north facing position in a very confined strip of soil. Its rhizome (underground stems from which the plant roots and shoots) can only spread along a thin strip of soil between a patio and concrete stream former. Although it has occasionally put out a runner this plant has grown well, making a compact clump in these conditions. Compared to the other golden culm bamboo Phyllostachys vivax f. Aureocaulis - we have found this to be a tame and demure plant. It has finer leaves and stems, is not so vigorous and has darker amber gold as opposed to light clear gold culms. It is also slightly less hardy and does not reach the same 8 or 9m in height
Above right - growing in an open position in the bamboo collection at the English Country Garden This is a much colder and more exposed position, but this clump has never shown any ill effects from the cold in 10 years. Its rhizomes have room to move around but it has stayed in a tight clump.
Left - The rich colour of these culms can be seen well here in this position right beside a patio and path, the lower side branches have been removed from the culms to make them more visible.