How to Grow Black Bamboo

Black bamboo (scientific name Phyllostachys nigra) is classified as a jumbo bamboo, which means it can grow up to 30 feet tall, with stalks up to 2 inches in diameter. The stalks, once ripened, are a deep blackish-green color, and the leaves are bright green. Black bamboo grows best in temperate zones (growing zones 6 and 7); it does not do well in areas where temperatures go below 0 degrees Fahrenheit.

Things You'll Need

• One black bamboo plant
• Organic mulch
• Shovel
• Water

Instructions

1. Make sure you have enough space for planting. One 3-foot black bamboo plant needs an area about 6 feet in diameter in order to thrive. Dig a hole about 1 foot across and deep enough so that the plant's rhizomes (horizontal roots) are just below the surface.

2. Plant your black bamboo in well-drained, rich soil. If the soil is too hard or has too much clay, mix an organic mulch into the top 6 inches of the soil first.

3. Water properly. Black bamboo plants like well-drained soil, but the plant must be kept slightly moist during the summer months. A gently sloping area is ideal for black bamboo plants. Water your black bamboo plant once or twice per week during hot weather.

4. Make sure your bamboo plant has enough sunlight. Black bamboo plants need plenty of sun to reach their growth potential. The best location is east or west facing, where they will get a full day of indirect sunlight. Direct, scorching sunlight can burn their leaves.

5. Shelter your black bamboo with a fence or wall if you live in an area that is likely to get pelting rain or strong winds, both of which can bend the stalks over onto the ground.

Tips & Warnings

• Black bamboo can grow up to 4 inches in one day and spread up to 10 feet wide in one summer, so start with one plant until you have determined how fast it will grow in your climate.

Resources

• More about growing Black bamboo