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AQUARIA SERVICES, INC.

"Corpus Christi Aquatic Specialists"

Aquaria Services Inc Bamboo
Contact Us   

Corpus Christi, TX

(361) 854-3961 Office
(361) 563-5968 Cell
(361) 806-2295 Fax
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Why Bamboo   

Bamboos have always been in Texas, and with responsible plantings and management of selected bamboos much could be done to improve our environment, keep us safer in storms and floods, produce valuable wood for paper and lumber, build habitat for wildlife, and stop erosion. As a sustainable and renewable resource, this plant is environmentally friendly.

Some people have had horrendous experiences with bamboo, but a little bit of knowledge can go a long way in deciding whether or not bamboo is right for you or your landscape. There are hundreds of varieties of bamboo and not all of them are horrors. The most important thing is to find a species that will not be invasive and overrun your property.
Types   
It is important to know that there are basically two types of bamboo – running and clumping. The runners are the ones that can take over a landscape if given half a chance. Leave running bamboo alone and it will lift sidewalks and driveways. Clumping bamboo species are recommended for planting in urban landscapes. Clumping bamboo is non-invasive, well-behaved, and require minimum maintenance and water. The semi-tropical bamboo are evergreen and winter hardy in South Texas.
Growing Tips   

Most bamboos are happiest in well-drained, highly organic soils. They need frequent, liberal watering, especially when getting established. Use mulch to help retain moisture.    Gardeners need to exercise patience when taking on the bamboo challenge, because it takes several years (often 5 to 10) for bamboo to grow into the dense grove desired.

Bamboo  
SUPPLIER OF NON-INVASIVE ORNAMENTAL TROPICAL BAMBOO PLANTS THAT ONLY GROW IN A CLUMPING MANNER
 

Bamboo is considered a giant grass that is one of the fastest growing woody plants on earth. Bamboo does much to heal the earth and improve the environment by producing clean air, halting erosion, building fertile ground, providing habitat for wildlife, creating canopy, and forming windbreaks, privacy hedges, and natural fences. Bamboo is vitally important in maintaining the balance of oxygen and nitrogen in the atmosphere, and its incredibly fast growth quickly re-establishes deforested areas. It also purifies the atmosphere and soil. 

Click here for a complete guide to Bamboo Maintenance & Care

 

BAMBOO : A Selection Guide   

Bambusa oldhamii “Giant Timber Bamboo”
Well-known classic tropical bamboo. Straight and erect culms and growth pattern, short branches, wide leaves. Culm walls are thick but soft – shoots are edible. Tropical, deep green foliage. 
Maximum Height – 55 Feet, Maximum Diameter – 4 Inches

Bambusa multiplex “Alphonse Karr”
Culms and branches are bright yellow with irregular longitudinal narrow dark green stripes. New shoots and culms are often reddish. Evergreen and hardy.
Maximum Height – 20 Feet, Maximum Diameter – 1 ½ Inches

Gigantochloa atroviolacia “Tropical Black”
Brown to black culms striped green. Dark-green foliage. Java/Tropical black. Tight clumper but opens up as culms arch outward like a fountain. Rare – Collector Bamboo.
Maximum Height – 40 Feet, Maximum Diameter – 3 Inches

Bambusa vulgaris vittata “Golden Hawaiian” “Painted Bamboo”
Bright yellow culms randomly striped with dark green stripes that look like drip marks. Striking ornamental. Very popular and easily recognizable. Fairly drought resistant. Vigorous grower.
Maximum Height – 50 Feet, Maximum Diameter – 4 Inches

Bambusa textilis “Weaver’s Bamboo”
Striking appearance with almost vertical culms. Internodes are long and branching starts quite high. Appearance is neater and more compact than oldhammii. Tolerates cold better than most Bambusas.
Maximum Height – 40 Feet, Maximum Diameter – 2 Inches

Bambusa chungii “Tropical Blue Bamboo” “Blue Ghost” “White Bamboo”
Slightly open clumber – stunning mystical bamboo. Culms are covered with persistent dense white bloom giving a pale blue appearance.
Maximum Height – 40 Feet, Maximum Diameter – 2 Inches

Bambusa tuldoides ventricosa “Buddah’s Belly”
Grows in an open clump and produces a large number of zig-zag culms. Produces “bellies” swollen inter-nodes in drought conditions or when stressed (especially in pots).
Maximum Height – 55 Feet, Maximum Diameter – 2 ¼ Inches

Bambusa lako “Timor Black”
Rare Ornamental – Purple-black culms striped faint green. Culms emerge green and mature to a shiny black (almost purplish tint). Has branches on lower part of culms. Similar to Gigantochloa atroviolacea.
Maximum Height – 45 Feet, Maximum Diameter – 3 ½ Inches

Bambusa vulgaris wamin “Dwarf Buddah Belly” “Wamin”
Valuable ornamental. Very unusual culms with pronounced nodes “bellies. Extremely striking ornamental. 
Maximum Height – 16 Feet, Maximum Diameter – 3 Inches

Dendrocalamus minor “Amoneus” “Angel Mist”
Rare Ornamental – beautiful whitish bloom combined with irregular culm stripes combine to present an eye-catching appearance. Generally is tight clumping with no low branching.
Maximum Height – 30 Feet, Maximum Diameter – 3 Inches

Bambusa tuldoides ventricosa “Kimmei” “Striped Buddah’s Belly”
Rare Ornamental – yellow culms with green vertical stripes and variegated leaves – occasional swollen nodes “bellies” and pink coloration. Excellent for bonsai.
Maximum Height – 30 Feet, Maximum Diameter – 2 Inches

Bambusa multiplex “Tiny Fern”
Very rare dwarf form of Chinese Goddess. Beautiful foliage and form with leaves often less than ¼” long. Highly prized ornamental.
Maximum Height – 3 Feet, Maximum Diameter – 1/8 Inch

Bambusa multiplex riviereorum “Chinese Goddess”
Solid culms, beautiful light green foliage with tiny leaves growing in a fountain form. Favored ornamental that is evergreen, clump forming, and a rapid grower – similar to Fern Leaf but smaller, more delicate looking.
Maximum Height – 8 Feet, Maximum Diameter – ¼ Inch

Bambusa multiplex “Fern Leaf”
May grow much taller in South and Southeast Texas – beautiful, tropical, “fern like” foliage. Some culms bear leaves of the typical form.
Maximum Height – 20 Feet, Maximum Diameter – ½ Inch

Bambusa multiplex “Golden Goddess”
Beautiful smaller form – extremely fast growing. Dwarf form of multiplex but similar to Fern Leaf, but with larger leaves. Culms tend to be yellowish. Hardy and evergreen foliage in South and Southeast Texas.
Maximum Height – 12 Feet, Maximum Diameter – ½ Inch

Bambusa eutuldoides viridi-vittata “Asian Lemon Bamboo”
Highly coveted ornamental – New culms have pink and peach tones with green stripes. Established culms are yellow with green stripes. 
Maximum Height – 25 Feet, Maximum Diameter – ½ Inch

Bambusa multiplex “Stripestem Fern Leaf”
Small in size and densely compact with many very small leaves on each branch. New shoots and young culms are red with green stripes – the red eventually changes to yellow as culm matures. Always a mixture of beautiful colors as the culms are in various stages of development.
Maximum Height – 12 Feet, Maximum Diameter – ½ Inch

Dendrocalamus strictus “Iron Bamboo” “Male Bamboo”
Lower parts of culms are sometimes solid. Highly ornamental cultivar with small slender leaves and a willowy overall appearance. 
Maximum Height – 40 Feet, Maximum Diameter – 2 ½ Inches

 

Bamboo   

click to enlarge
Bambusa oldhamii
Giant Timber Bamboo
Bambusa multiplex
Alphonse Karr
Gigantochloa atroviolacia
Tropical Black
Bambusa vulgaris vittata
Golden Hawaiian
Bambusa textilis
Weaver’s Bamboo
Bambusa chungii
Tropical Blue Bamboo
Bambusa tuldoides ventricosa
Buddah’s Belly
Bambusa lako
Timor Black
Bambusa vulgaris wamin
Dwarf Buddah Belly
Dendrocalamus minor
Angel Mist
Bambusa tuldoides ventricosa
Striped Buddah’s Belly
Bambusa multiplex “Tiny Fern”
Tiny Fern
Bambusa multiplex riviereorum
Chinese Goddess
Bambusa multiplex “Fern Leaf”
Fern Leaf
Bambusa multiplex “Golden Goddess”
Golden Goddess
Bambusa eutuldoides viridi-vittata
Asian Lemon Bamboo
Bambusa multiplex “Stripestem Fern Leaf”
Stripestem Fern Leaf
Dendrocalamus strictus
Iron Bamboo

All Photographs Copyright by Denise Housler

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