Leave your worldly troubles behind, as you pass through the gates of the Taniguchi Oriental Garden. As you take the path down the hill, the first bamboos you see are to the left of the tea house. These are of the Pleioblastus genus of small to medium-sized, running bamboo (formerly classified as Arundinaria). Some like sun, some prefer more shade. Most are hardy down to 0°F and also seems to be quite tolerant of central Texas heat.
In the foreground is Pleioblastus simonii variegatus, growing a few feet tall, with narrow variegated leaves. This is a very “unstable” bamboo, and has a tendency to revert back to the species type (Pleioblastus simonii). The taller bamboo in the background is Pleioblastus simonii, which has reverted from the Pl. simonii variegatus. (Note the similarities between the two species, but the difference in the appearance of the leaves.) Pl. simonii can grow 20’ tall under ideal conditions, and has many uses.
As you face these bamboo, and look down to your left, you will see a low growing bamboo, with variegated leaves. This is Pleioblastus fortunei variegatus (Dwarf Whitestripe). This bamboo tends to keep its green and white stripes throughout the year, has thin 1/4” in diameter culms, is tolerant down to a low temperature of minus 10°F and never seems to get over a few inches tall. All of these plants were planted in 1997 and have been pruned back several times.
Following the path downhill (away from the tea house), you will approach the bamboo display area. The first bed, as you step down onto the dirt path, has recently been altered to ideally contain only one species of a short ground cover bamboo, Pleioblastus distichus, which is well adapted to sun or shade. This is a compact bamboo and must be planted close together to cover an area. Deep shade will make the culms lengthen and distort its compact characteristics. Maximum specifications are 2’ tall, 1/8” in diameter and 10°F. Originally 15 plants in 1997, this bamboo has filled in nicely. Previously, we had three species in this bed, but the competition between them was just too great. To remedy the situation, we removed the large-leafed Indocalamus tessellatus and moved the more delicate-looking Chimonobambusa marmorea. Although it was an attractive contrast having these three species together, it was also a classic example of what happens when you plant different species of bamboo too close together.
Plans for the summer months of 2001 include the temporary installation of a specimen of Otatea acuminata aztecorum (Mexican weeping bamboo) in the center of this bed. A clumping bamboo, this one freezes at 28°F and has been dug up and placed in the greenhouse to over-winter several times. As a result of this annual disturbance to the plant, we will not be able to observe it in its mature state. It is a tropical and its natural habitat is central Mexico to Central America.
Now it you will turn around and do an “about face", you will see that there is a large-leafed plant mixed in with the morning glories, English (and some poison) ivy. This is Indocalamus tessellatus (the same species which we removed from the previous bed). I. tessellatus has the largest leaves of any bamboo in cultivation and doesn’t usually get more than four feet tall. A small running bamboo, it was first planted here about 1993 by Herb Hillery and Kinder Chambers. The vines in this area have kept this plant in check. I. tessellatus adapts easily to growing in pots and looks best in shady areas.
Pseudosasa amabilis (Tonkin cane), Chimobambusa marmorea and Bambusa textilis:
The next bed contains three species. The first tall bamboo is Pseudosasa amabilis. This was recently renamed by taxonomists and was formerly known as Arundinaria amabilis. It was given the name amabilis by F. A. McClure, an early plant explorer, because he thought it to be very lovely. The common name of this bamboo is Tonkin cane. In its native habitat of China, Tonkin cane covers vast hillsides, reaches 50’ tall, 2 1/2” diameter and can handle 10°F. It likes full sun, and enjoys twice as much rain as we get in central Texas. It is a very useful bamboo, straight, thick-walled, with non-prominent nodes, and is the bamboo which is used to make bamboo fly rods. Like all plants, bamboo needs proper space to reach full capacity, so don’t expect to see a 50 foot tall culm in the small space allotted to this plant. This was originally planted on April 24, 1998.
On either side of the Tonkin cane, is the delicate, leafy Chimobambusa marmorea. For lack of a better location, we put it here when we removed it from the first bed. This is not a good spot for it and we are in search of an isolated area where it could fill in and its beauty be more fully displayed. This is a running bamboo which shoots in the wintertime. The new shoots and culm leaves are marbled with cream and purple. Its almost-solid culms turn dark purple, can grow 6’ tall and 1/2” diameter. Tolerant to a low temperature of 15°F, this species also likes some shade. There are two clumps of Chimonobambusa marmorea.
Now, before you proceed on to admire the next clump, look up to the High Center Bed. Planted on April 24, 1998, the tall bamboo is Bambusa multiplex. This is a clumping bamboo that does well in areas where the minimum temperatures do not drop below 12°F. It grows 25’ tall, 1 1/2” in diameter, likes full sun and please note how much space a clumping bamboo can take up in the landscape.
The short bamboo growing around the B. multiplex is Shibataea kumasaca. Originally four plants in 1998, the kumasaca has spread slowly and this spring (2001) is the first time that there have been many new shoots. S. kumasaca can be trained into a handsome hedge. It has short broad leaves which resemble holly, and prefers acid soil, growing 7’ tall, 1/4” diameter and tolerates minus 10°F, and also likes a tad of shade. Too much shade will make it lose its attractive leafiness.
Now you may proceed on to the stately Bambusa textilis, a tight growing clumper, which often reaches 40’ tall, 2” in diameter, but is only tolerant of a low temperature of 13°F. The common name for textilis is “weaver’s bamboo” as the thin-walled culms are often used for weaving.
The next bed contains Phyllostachys nigra (black bamboo). This was the first bamboo planted in the bamboo display area and was planted on September 13, 1997. It has been indicated that black bamboo likes shade, but the Prafrance catalog mentions that the culms turn ebony black when exposed to the sun. Maximum height is listed as 30', diameter 2", with a minimum temperature of 0°F. The new shoots start out green and turn darker during their first year.
The next bed contains Phyllostachys aurea Flavescens-inversa: (planted April 24, 1998). The green culms are distinguished by a yellow stripe in the groove (sulcus). This species seems to be extra aggressive, grows 27’ tall, 1 3/4” in diameter, 0°F, and takes full sun. On February 24, 2001, part of this bed was cleared and some of this bamboo was moved to another location.
The last bed in this area, contains five clumping bamboos which were also planted April 24, 1998: Bambusa multiplex cv ‘Fernleaf stripestem’ (three plants) grows 12’ tall, 1/2” in diameter, 12°F full sun. Bambusa multiplex cv ‘Fernleaf’ (two plants) grows 20’ tall, 1/2” in diameter, 12°F, full sun. These all have small delicate “fern like leaves” and make a nice hedge.
Now go back to the start of the dirt path, and walk to your right (beside the koi pond). To the right of the bench at the end of the koi pond is a tall clumper, Bambusa beecheyana. It was originally intended to over-winter this plant in the greenhouse, (it is only tolerant down to 15°F) but it has become too big to move. Fortunately, the last few winters have been mild, so it has not severely damaged. This one can grow 50’ tall and 5” in diameter. Keep your eye on this one!
In January 2001, Texas Bamboo Society members performed maintenance tasks in this area. The tall, stately specimen behind the bench is Semiarundinaria fastuosa, which grows 30’ tall, 1 1/2” in diameter, handles minus 5°F, and likes full sun. This plant was thinned out and some of the rhizomes were dug up. Our challenge is to keep this contained without installing a barrier.
The very tall clumping bamboo in the center is Bambusa olhamii and had been incorrectly labeled as Bambusa ventricosa (Buddha's Belly). To help to compare the two species, member Steve Carter donated a Bambusa ventricosa during the 11th Annual Texas Bamboo Festival (2003) and both of these plants are now in close proximity to one another for observation and comparison.
The Phyllostachys bambusoides, which was also located in this area, has been moved down onto the hill. Bambusoides is also known as timber bamboo and has straight, thick walled culms and can grow 72’ tall, and 6” in diameter.
Beyond the Buddha belly bamboo, you will see the bamboo star cage, which was designed and built by Akio Hizume of Tokyo, Japan in Oct., 1999. The star cage marks an entrance to the Taniguchi Oriental Garden if one was coming from the rose garden.
Throughout the east side of the Taniguchi Oriental Garden is Phyllostachys aurea (golden bamboo), and Pseudosasa japonica (arrow bamboo) which were both planted as part of the original garden by its creator, Isamu Taniguchi in 1969.