Wolong Clumping Bamboo

The perfect bamboo when you want the elegant, arching look of your dream bamboo, this Wolong Clumping Bamboo forms dense but non-spreading clumps of upright canes, with the upper section arching over when the stem is mature. The leaves are unusually-large, and also glossy, giving a tropical look to this plant, even though it is hardy through zone 6. It’s colorful too, with the new stems emerging rusty-red and covered with fine hairs. Stems become bright green, with whitish striping during the first year, eventually maturing to yellow-green. Producing abundant stems, it makes a dense clump, but with the leaves generally higher up, so it isn’t so suitable for hedges or screening as many of our other bamboos. You can expect it to reach 7 or 8 feet in a few years, and probably 12 feet in time. Great for specimens in the garden, wonderful for an Asian-theme, and also perfect for growing in a pot.

• Upright, green stems arch over at the top
• Unusually-large, glossy leaves give a tropical look
• Grows well in full sun
• Forms a dense clump, without being invasive
• Not suitable for hedges, as the foliage is too open and high on the plant

The Wolong Clumping Bamboo grows best in full sun or light shade. It is hardy into zone 6, but may suffer some foliage burn in a severe winter in that zone. Otherwise it is reliably winter-hardy, and grows well in all warmer zones, but perhaps not so well in the deep South. Plant it in any well-drained soil – it isn’t invasive, so a barrier isn’t needed. For pots use a mix of half garden soil and half potting soil, and remember that tall plants in pots can fall over if not secured – heavy clay or stone pots are best. Not eaten by deer or bothered by pests or diseases, it shoots early in spring and benefits from a little evergreen fertilizer at that time. Not suitable for hedges, so trimming is best avoided.