Golden Bamboo Phyllostachys aurea
ABOUT
Phyllostachys aurea, commonly known as Golden Bamboo, is a perennial grass characterized by its striking appearance. This plant features a dense cluster of cane-like stems, which are often a bright green when young but gradually change to a golden-yellow hue as they mature. The stems are smooth and segmented, with noticeable nodes that mark the junction of each segment. These nodes are more pronounced than those of many other bamboo species, giving the plant a distinctive, knobby appearance. The leaves of the Golden Bamboo are slender and elongated, with a pointed tip and a fresh green color. They are arranged alternately along the stems, fluttering gently in the breeze, and can create a rustling sound that adds to the plant's sensory appeal. The foliage is evergreen, allowing the plant to maintain its lush appearance throughout the year. In the spring season, Golden Bamboo may produce flowering spikes, but this is a rare occurrence, and flowers can often take years to appear. When they do bloom, the small, inconspicuous flowers cluster along the stems. The flowering event is not as showy as other plants and often goes unnoticed amidst the dense foliage. The roots of Golden Bamboo are rhizomatous, meaning they spread horizontally underground and can send up new shoots at some distance from the parent plant. This vigorous growth habit makes the Golden Bamboo a popular choice for creating dense screens or hedges, but also requires careful management to prevent it from becoming invasive in some environments.
About this plant
NamesFamily
Poaceae.
Synonyms
Golden Bamboo, Fishpole Bamboo, Monk's Belly Bamboo, Fairyland Bamboo.
Common names
Bambos aurea, Phyllostachys aureosulcata, Phyllostachys reticulata, Sinarundinaria reticulata.
ToxicityTo humans
The Golden Bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea) is not known to be toxic to humans.
To pets
Golden Bamboo is not typically listed as a plant that is toxic to pets. However, it's always best to prevent pets from ingesting plants that are not meant to be part of their diet, as individual animals might have unique sensitivities or allergic reactions.
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Perennials
Foliage type
Evergreen
Color of leaves
Green
Height
20 feet (6 meters)
Spread
15 feet (4.5 meters)
Plant type
Bamboo
Hardiness zones
6
Native area
China
Benefits
General Benefits- Ornamental Value: Phyllostachys aurea, commonly known as Golden Bamboo, is often used in landscaping for its striking appearance and vibrant green-yellow canes.
- Privacy Screening: It grows quickly and densely, making it an ideal plant for creating privacy screens or hedges in gardens and yards.
- Soil Erosion Control: The extensive root system of Golden Bamboo helps to prevent soil erosion, particularly on slopes and riverbanks.
- Noise Reduction: The dense growth can help absorb sound, thus reducing noise pollution in urban and suburban areas.
- Windbreak: Its sturdy canes and thick growth form effective windbreaks that can protect smaller plants and reduce wind speed in exposed areas.
- Resource Sustainability: As a rapidly renewable resource, Golden Bamboo can be harvested for various uses such as crafting, construction, and making furniture, without creating significant environmental impact.
- Habitat for Wildlife: The thick clumps formed by Golden Bamboo can provide shelter and nesting sites for various wildlife species.
- Culinary Use: Young shoots of the Golden Bamboo are edible and are used in some Asian cuisines.
Medical Properties- This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- Phyllostachys aurea, commonly known as Golden Bamboo, can be used to create musical instruments, such as flutes and panpipes, due to its hollow stems.
- The plant's sturdy canes are often employed in the construction of fishing poles, offering a lightweight and flexible option for anglers.
- Golden Bamboo can be woven into baskets and mats, taking advantage of its natural strength and flexibility after being properly treated.
- The hollow stems can be turned into decorative items like vases or lampshades, with their distinctive appearance adding an exotic touch to interior design.
- Dried canes of Golden Bamboo may serve as stakes and supports for other plants in the garden, providing an organic and aesthetic alternative to plastic or metal stakes.
- Its thick growth habit allows it to be used as a natural sound barrier, reducing noise pollution when planted in dense rows along roads or property lines.
- Innovative crafters use thin slices of Golden Bamboo canes to create jewelry, such as bracelets and necklaces, sometimes combining them with other materials.
- Golden Bamboo is employed in the art of ikebana, Japanese flower arranging, where its elegant canes add height and structure to the composition.
- The canes can be used to fabricate frames for paper lanterns, utilizing their natural curve to shape the lantern's structure.
- Golden Bamboo canes, when suitably treated, can be used as natural piping in water gardens or fountains, providing a rustic look and leveraging their hollow structure.
Interesting Facts
Feng ShuiThe Golden Bamboo is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign CompitabilityThe Golden Bamboo is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism- Flexibility and Resilience: Phyllostachys aurea, also known as the Golden Bamboo, possesses a flexible yet strong structure, symbolizing the ability to bend without breaking and adapt to changing circumstances.
- Growth and Vitality: Golden Bamboo is a fast-growing plant, representing rapid growth and the vitality required to push onwards in life.
- Privacy and Protection: Due to its dense growth, Golden Bamboo is often used as a natural privacy screen, symbolizing the need for personal space and protection from unwanted intrusion.
- Luck and Prosperity: In Asian cultures, bamboo is considered a symbol of good luck and prosperity, believed to bring wealth and good fortune to those who grow it.
WaterGolden bamboo prefers consistent moisture, especially during its active growing season in the spring and summer. Water the plant when the top inch of the soil feels dry, which typically equates to once a week. However, watering frequency can vary depending on climate and weather conditions, such as increased frequency during hot, dry spells or reduced during rainy periods. An established golden bamboo may require about 1 to 2 gallons of water per week to maintain soil moisture, but make sure not to overwater as this can lead to root rot.
LightGolden bamboo thrives in full sun to part shade. It performs best when planted in a location that receives at least four to six hours of direct sunlight per day. However, in extremely hot climates, some afternoon shade can help prevent leaf scorch. It is adaptable and can tolerate a range of light conditions, but optimal growth and health are achieved with ample sunlight.
TemperatureGolden bamboo is hardy and can tolerate a temperature range from about 0 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. However, the ideal temperature for this plant is between 30 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. It can withstand occasional dips below freezing without significant damage, but prolonged exposure to temperatures below 0 degrees Fahrenheit can be harmful to the plant.
PruningPruning golden bamboo helps maintain its size, encourages new growth, and removes any weak or dead culms. Prune in the late winter or early spring before the growing season starts. This timing allows you to remove any damage from winter and shape the plant for the coming growth spurt. Thin out the clump by removing older, less vigorous culms and trim back any that are encroaching on unwanted areas. You may need to prune every year or two to keep the bamboo manageable and tidy.
CleaningAs needed
SoilGolden bamboo thrives in a well-draining, fertile soil mix with plenty of organic matter. The ideal pH range for this plant is between 6.0-6.5. A mix of loam, compost, and sand or perlite can ensure good drainage and aeration, crucial for healthy root development.
RepottingGolden bamboo is a fast-growing plant and may need repotting every 2 to 3 years to prevent it from becoming root-bound. Repotting is best done in the spring before the rapid growth season begins.
Humidity & MistingGolden bamboo prefers moderate to high humidity levels, with an optimal range between 40-60%. It can tolerate some degree of dry air but thrives in environments with consistent moisture in the air.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Keep golden bamboo in a bright spot with well-draining soil.
Outdoor
Plant golden bamboo in a sunny area, ensuring soil moisture.
Hardiness zone
6-10 USDA.
Life cyclePhyllostachys aurea, commonly known as golden bamboo, begins its life cycle as a seed, which germinates to produce a small seedling. This seedling grows rapidly, fueled by the energy reserves in the seed, and soon develops into a young plant. As the plant matures, it develops a rhizome system, which allows it to spread and produce new culms, or stems, that emerge from the soil and quickly shoot up, sometimes several feet in a season. Over time, these culms develop lateral branches and leaves, photosynthesizing to produce the energy necessary for growth and further spread. Eventually, after several years (often between 7 to 10), the plant reaches maturity and produces flowers, a rare event that can lead to a decline or death of the parent plant afterward due to the massive energy expenditure. Once pollinated, either by wind or insects, the flowers produce seeds, completing the cycle and starting the next generation of golden bamboo.
PropogationPropogation time
Spring to early summer
Propogation: Golden bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea) propagation is most effectively achieved through division, commonly carried out in the spring or early autumn to allow enough time for the new plantings to establish before the growing season or the onset of winter respectively. The division process involves removing a section of the established bamboo clump, ensuring that there are several healthy rhizomes with attached roots and shoots included. This clump is then re-planted in a suitable location, with adequate space for the roots to spread, and watered thoroughly. It is essential to maintain soil moisture until new growth indicates that the division has begun to establish itself, but be wary of overwatering which might cause root rot.
