These are bamboo species from the higher elevations of the Andes, Central America or the Himalayan regions of India and China. Many of these species are fairly recent introductions and have not been trialed in all areas of the USA. All seem to do quite well along the West coast. Some do well in the Midwest and Middle Atlantic regions to New England. They do not like the desert regions, Texas or deep South. Consider not ordering these if warm summer nights are the norm. They do not mind warm days but need cool nights. Trial at your own risk if you are in the hot climates. See article,"Isolated Taxonomists Create Multiple Bamboo Names" below. Note there have been several recent (2005-2007) name changes! Cold temperature to 20 F in 2007 lowered some "leaf kill" tolerances in new introductions.

Borinda albocera (Yunnan 3)
A new introduction from Yunnan. Light green leaves and a very whitish waxy culm gives this species the "blue" culm look. Nodes have a unique soft rubbery ring around the ridge and culms with fine striated ridging noticable to the touch. Striking upright form. A large plant.
1/2   20'   1"   10 F   8-10   C

Borinda angustissima (Fargesia angustissima)
Another favorite bamboo of the pandas. Small leaves and purple culm sheaths give this clumper an attractive appearance. A tall grower.
1/2   20'   1"   0 F   7-10   C

Borinda boliana (syn.-"Himalayacalamus intermedius")/Giant Blue Bamboo
The original plant was collected in Sichuan, China but it does not seem to fit any of the species described in China. It came here via the Fuji Bamboo Gardens in Japan. Has pale blue culms. Our plants have been in sporadic flowering for 7 years-thus we have seedlings. We seem to have the only flowering one in the country. Reaches large size quickly. It has become a personal favorite!
1/2   24'   1"   0 F    7-10   C

Borinda contracta
A bushy and fast growing new species from Yunnan.
1/2   15'   3/4"   15 F   8-10   C

Borinda fungosa (syn. - Fargesia fungosa)
A recent introduction from the Chinese side of the Himalayas. Native habitat would suggest good hardiness. Is used for weaving. Beautiful against a dark background. Nice looking under trees. Rhizomes have survived near zero temperatures of an occasional cold snap however, the top was killed.
1/2   20'   1"   10 F   8-10   C

Borinda lushuiensis (Yunnan 4)
Incredibly beautiful  new ornamental from Yunnan. Long droopy leaves, bluish culms and open form make this the landscaper's pick under tall trees.
1/2   20'   1.5"   15 F   8-10   C

Borinda papyrifera (KR 3968)
A large clumper similar to Borinda albocera. Markerd with vertical striations on the culm. Lushly foliated with fresh green leaves. New introduction.
1/2   26'    1.25"    10F    8-10    C 

Borinda perlonga (Yunnan 6)
Another excellent new ornamental for the landsaper's palette. Blue culms, large and abundent leaves with arching and curling downward culm tips.
1/2   20'   1.25"   15 F   8-10   C

Borinda sp. 'Muliensis'
From Muli County in Sichuan, China. Broad leaved and may be deciduous in the colder part of its range. Evergreen on the Pacific Coast where it thrives.
1/2    10'    .5"    10 F     8-10    C

Chimonocalamus pallens
A new introduction from China a few years back via seed. New shoots are very blue and covered by dark purple sheaths.
sun-1/2    25'    1 1/2"    10 F     8-10     C       

Chusquea andina 'Blue Andes'
Small spiky blue leaves are unusual in bamboo. This species from the treeline of the Chilean Andes may be one of the hardiest of South American Bamboos.
sun   12'   1"   0 F   7-10   C

Chusquea circinata
Dark colored arching canes with whorls of small leaves. Delicate looking.
sun-1/2   22'   1"   24 F   9-10   C

Chusquea circinata 'Chiapas'
A smaller form from Chiapas, Mexico. Seed collected by Strybing Arboretum from a roadside plant in the early 1990's resulted in fewer than 100 seedlings. These have been dispersed around the West Coast. The plant has been verified as Chusquea circinata by Dr. Lynn Clark and Gilberto Cortés. Nice arching culms are segmented into whorls of slightly larger leaves. In winter the new shoot tips and leaves are creamy colored.
1/2   10'   1/2"   24 F   9-10

Chusquea coronalis
A tropical bamboo from Central America. Beautiful tiny leaves circle the culm in umbrella-like whorls at the node.
sun   15'   3/4"    25 F   10   C

Chusquea culeou
A hardy Chilean bamboo popular in Europe for many years. Light colored internodes with dark green nodes. Several varieties and cultivars are available. Excellent wood with solid culms. Good for building furniture, tool handles and hoop greenhouses.
sun-1/2   20'   1 1/4"   0 F   7-10   C

Chusquea culeou 'Argentina'
A hardy Argentinian species. These seedlings are longer branched than their Chilean cousins. Sometimes identified as Chusquea argentina.
sun-1/2   15'   1 1/4"   0 F   7-10   C

Chusquea culeou 'Caña Prieta' (syn.Chusquea nigricans)
Stiff dark green erect leaves on dark culms. Culms are dark enough to be almost "Black". Grows naturally in bogs and wet areas. May soon be called "cana prieta" in the trade.
sun-1/2   15'   1"   0 F   7-10   C

Chusquea culeou 'Hillier's Form'
Leaves in whorls on short tough branches give this shrubby clumper and interesting profile. May be some other species.
sun-1/2   8'   3/4"   0 F   7-10   C

Chusquea cumingii
Cute but tough little mountain top bamboo from Southern Chile. Stiff, tiny leaves are prickly feeling when touched. A very interesting and lovely shrub bamboo. Cascades nicely on steep slopes.
sun   10'   3/4"   10 F   8-10   C

Chusquea foliosa
Beautiful long thin droopy leaves garnishing the trademark golden internode/ green swollen nodes found in several species of Chusquea. Pretty reddish new shoot.
1/2   20'   1 1/2"   24 F   9-10   C

Chusquea gigantea - Demoly (incorrectly known as "breviglumis" in the trade)(C. aff. culeou)
A nice hardy clumping bamboo from the cooler part of Chile and the Andes Mountains. Grows in a stiff vase shape. New shoots are shades of red or pink.
sun   25'   1 1/2"   0 F   7-10

Chusquea glauca
Probably the largest leaved Chuquea. Vining form in nature but upright without support. Seeds came from plants collected in Mexico at 6000' elevation. Seedlings are growing outdoors in Coastal Oregon.
1/2   10'   1/2"   20 F   9-10

Chusquea liebmannii
An arching form tropical bamboo from Southern Mexico to Central America. The small diameter culms can go to incredible lengths to reach the sunlight through under story plants. It has a bushier habit in full sun. Good for wall plantings, espallier and a house plant.
sun   33'   1"   32 F   10   C

Chusquea mimosa australis
From southern Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul at about 29 degrees S latitude. It can withstand light frost, perhaps a bit more, heat tolerance may not be as big a problem for this plant as for some other species of Chusquea. The small leaves appear in tight whorls on burgandy to pink culms culms and branches. A personal favorite!
1/2   15'   1"   20 F   9-10   C

Chusquea pittieri
One of the largest Chusqueas. A vining habit that climbs up and hangs down from trees. Personally used as a house plant with nice results.
1/2   50'   2"   24 F   9-10   C

Chusquea sp. 'Chiconquiaco'
Collected along the roadside in 1999 high up in the cloud forest of Veracrauz Mexico. This small leaved vining species is new to horticulture. It is very happy growing on the Oregon Coast. It is an unusual Chusquea with a spreading habit.
sun-1/2   10'   1/2"   20 F   9-10   R

Chusquea sp. 'Las Vigas'
Also collected in 1999, this species has large leavers and very pretty rosy red new shoots and arching culms. It has a fairly vigorous spreading and clambering habit.
sun-1/2   8'   .5   20 F   9-10   R

Chusquea subtilis
Closely resmbles C. foliosa and much easier to grow. From 2000-2,600 m elevation in Costa Rica. Very fine leaf blades on arching and curling downward culms.
1/2   20'   1 1/2"   24 F   9-10   C

Chusquea sulcata
A pretty bamboo like C. foliosa. New and there are very few plants available.
1/2   15'   1"   24 F   9-10   C

Chusquea tenuis
Dark foliage like Chusquea culeou Caña Prieta. The leaves point upward on shorter branches. Also carries these names: Chusquea acuminata, C. culeou var. tenuis.
Sun-1/2   15'   1"   0 F   C

Chusquea tomentosa
A large, tall, vining habit bamboo with very long dark green leaves. It has a very beautiful form. It looks beautiful in pots.
1/2   25'   1 1/2"   24 F   9-10   C

Chusquea valdiviensis
Another climbing form of Chusquea that is from Chile. This is an aggressive, hardy climber that goes to incredible lengths to get to the light at tree top level. Too big for residential gardens.
sun   40'   1.5"   0 F   7-10   C

Drepanostachyum falcatum- BLUE BAMBOO - see Himalayacalamus hookerianus

Drepanostachyum glomeratum - see Drepanostachyum sengteeanum(Arundinaria falconeri, Himalayacalamus falconeri var. glomerata ) -

Drepanostachyum hookerianum - STRIPED HIMALAYAN BAMBOO, CANDY CANE BAMBOO - see Himalayacalamus falconeri 'Damarapa'

Drepanostachyum khasianum - KHASIA BAMBOO
The pretty purple noded culms bear big dark green leaves. The new culms are dark green and covered with white powder. It has bigger leaves than most of the Sino-Himalayans. Takes warmer climates than most Mountain Bamboo. A classy looking plant.
1/2   16'   3/4"   20 F   9-10   C

Drepanostachyum sengteeanum - formerly misnamed as Drepanostachyum glomeratum, and Himalayacalamus falconeri var. glomerata ) -
A delicate clumper with airy leaves and easily seen culms. The culms grow in a tight clump with nodding tips. Culm sheaths are mainly glabrous, with a ring of hairs around the base. It is presently being described by Dr.Chris Stapleton as a new species in honor of Dr. Seng Tee Lee of Singapore who funded his post at Kew Gardens. A Himalayan beauty from 1992 seedlings.
1/2   30'   1 1/4"   15 F   8-10   C

A nice looking bamboo of the Himalayas where it grows at elevations over 6000 feet. Greener and bigger leaves than most fargesias. Takes more sun. The name Fargesia dracocephala has been in question for some time. Recently in 2006 the species was finally identified as Fargesia apicirubens (Stapleton)
1/2   10'   1/2"   -10 F   6-10   C

Fargesia apicirubens (F. dracocephala) / 'White Dragon'
A selected seedling with white varigation on he leaves. The only variegated Fargesia.
1/2  8'   1/2"   -10 F   6-10   C

Fargesia crassinodus-see Thamnocalamus crassinodus

Fargesia murielae "SABE 939"
A hardy green bamboo from the Himalayas. 2003 seedlings from a plant in Northern California. Leaves of the parent were significantly thicker than the standard form. Reported to be a different clone fromm the Sino-Himalayan Expedition of 1980.
1/2   15'   1/2"   -20 F   5-10  

Fargesia nitida - FOUNTAIN BAMBOO
The culms are mahogany colored with dark sheaths. The young culms are covered with a bluish-white powder.
1/2   12'   1/2"   -20 F   5-10   C

Fargesia nitida 'Eisenach'
A smaller form of the species. Tends to be more erect.
1/2   6'   1/4"   -20 F   5-10   C

Fargesia nitida 'Jiuzhaigou'
New intoduction with deicate leaves and finely colored burgundy culms.
1/2   12'   1/2"   -20 F   5-10   C

Fargesia nitida 'Jiuzhaigou 2'
Similar to type species but more heat tolerant. It forms a more open clump. New introduction.
1/2   12'   .5"   -20 F   5-10   C

Fargesia nitida 'Nymphenburg'
Strongly arched branches with narrow leaves.
1/2   12'   1/2"   -20 F   5-10   C

Fargesia robusta
A strong, fast grower from elevations of over 8,000 feet in the Himalayas. Excellent foliage with large leaves. Takes full sun better than other Himalayans.
1/2   16'   1"   -5 F   6-10   C

Fargesia robusta 'Wolong'
Similar growth habit as the species above.  Much larger and glossier leaves. Excellent as a showcase specimen.

Fargesia sp. 'Scabrida'
New introduction. Similar looking to Fargesia rufa wider spacing between culms and more orangish culm sheaths.
1/2   14'   1/2"   0 F   7-10   C

Fargesia utilis
Native to elevations of 9,000 - 12,000 feet.
1/2   18'   3/4"   0 F   7-10   C

Himalayacalamus asper (syn. "Neomicrocalamus microphyllus") - TIBETAN PRINCESS BAMBOO
Thin dark burgundy culms ascend to whorls of long narrow delicate leaves. The new shoots grow upright. Older, leaved culms may hang out needing staking or pruning.
1/2   20'   1/2"   15 F   8-10   C

Himalayacalamus falconeri
Seedlings of the green form. Fast growing plants. The leave are a lighter green color but look similar to the Candy Cane variety. Excellent form for the landscape.
1/2   30'   2"   15 F   8-10   C

Himalayacalamus falconeri 'Damarapa' - syn. Drepanostachyum hookerianum - STRIPED HIMALAYAN BAMBOO, CANDY CANE BAMBOO
A Himalayan bamboo of great beauty. Slender branched masses of leaves born on culms striped in yellow, green and pink. An occasional cream stripe on the leaves. Slimy culm sheaths when raining or damp in the morning.
1/2   30'   2"   15 F   8-10   C

Himalayacalamus hookerianus 'Teague's Blue' - syn. Drepanostachyum falcatum- BLUE BAMBOO
The new culms have a blue powder that makes them almost look "blue" from a distance. As they age the culm colors vary from burgandy, terra cotta to green. Used in basket weaving and as animal fodder in the Himalayas.
1/2   20'   1"   20 F   9-10   C

"Neomicrocalamus microphyllus" see Himalayacalamus asper

Rhipidocladum racemiflorum
This is an incredibly beautiful vining bamboo from Mexico and Central America. Small leaves on numerous branches form whorls of pompoms well spaced on the culms. In full sun it may be covered with minute leaves. In shade the pompom effect is more apparent.
1/2   20'   3/4"   25 F   9-10   C

Thamnocalamus crassinodus
Smaller leaves and more delicate looking than the Fargesias. Grown in the U.K. for many years.
1/2   18'   1"   0 F   7-10   C

Thamnocalamus crassinodus 'Mendocino'
A new variety which found its way from a Himalayan trek to the West Coast. Large very droopy blue-green leaves adorn culms with exagerated  knobby nodes.
1/2   18'   1"   0 F   7-10   C

Thamnocalamus crassinodus 'Merlin'
Pretty, small leaves adorn large noded culms. Native to the 10,000 foot level of the north-east Himalayas. Fast grower. I like it.
1/2   18'   1"   0 F   7-10   C

Thamnocalamus tessellatus - Bergbamboes
A native bamboo of So. Africa. Similar to Fargesia. Has interesting looking culms. Grows in a slowly spreading clump.
1/2   16'   1"   0 F   7-10   C