Phyllostachys aureosulcata f. 'spectabilis'

Crookstem Bamboo

from £24.50

5 / 5 based on 1 customer review

Description Plant Care Q & A Suggested Sundries Alternatives Description

Phyllostachys aureosulcata 'Spectabilis' the Golden Crookstem Bamboo is one of the first bamboos to shoot in the spring. Expect brilliant gold canes flushed pink in summer with vertical green stripes. Should reach 4 to 5 metres in height when planted in the ground in a sunny position. The occasional bending of the canes is particular to this bamboo, hence its common name. You'll be the envy of your neighbours with this bamboo! RHS Award of Garden Merit. We recommend using Bamboo Root Barrier for this bamboo.

Eventual Size: Up to 5 metres, but can be pruned
Position: Sun to part shade; out of cold, drying winds - especially coastal winds
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Columnar/Upright/Spreading
Soil: All soils, but avoid waterlogged areas; very dry soils will need extra watering
Cane/Culm Colour: Golden yellow canes with intermittent grooved green stripes
Hardiness: H5 - Hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
Uses: Screening Bamboo, Hedging Bamboo

Other Phyllostachys Bamboo: Phyllostachys aurea, Phyllostachys aureosulcata 'Aureocaulis', Phyllostachys bissettii & Phyllostachys nigra

Common Names: Crookstem Bamboo and Showy yellow groove bamboo

Eventual Size of Phyllostachys aureosulcata f. 'spectabilis'

Eventual size after 10 years

Plant Care

Bamboo Care

Before planting it is a good idea to soak the bamboo thoroughly to ensure the rots are well and truly saturated then dig a hole at least twice the size of the root ball add compost then place the bamboo so that the finished soil height will be slightly lower than the top of the root ball. Backfill using your soil mixed 50:50 with good compost. Once planted gently firm down the soil around the base add a top dressing of a good fertilizer, we prefer poultry manure, then mulch with a good 8-10 deep layer of compost. Finally water again to help settle the bamboo. In dry periods it may be necessary to repeat watering regularly, if the bamboo looks dry and the leaves are curling this is a sure sign. After the first season we repeat the mulching and feeding each spring.

Now stand back and enjoy. Don’t expect your bamboo to grow away like a rocket, yes bamboo can grow incredibly fast but most of this happens over a 3 month period which is very generally late May through to early August so if you’ve planted either side of this period I’m afraid you’ll have to wait.

Pruning and Grooming

Bamboo can be very accommodating here. I’ve seen pristine clipped hedges and topiary shaped plantings of both Phllostachys aurea and bissetti showing easy how easy it can be managed. What I like to do though on any large bamboo is to remove all old, thin and spindly canes (or culms as us horticulturists call them) then prune away all the side branches off the remaining culms to a height of between 60cm to 150cm depending on your choice. This in my opinion show bamboos off to there best making them stately specimens.

For more information see our Bamboo Care Guide for these types of Bamboo:

Question & Answer