Pleioblastus auricomus Leaf (18/11/2012, Kew Gardens, London)
Position: Full sun to partial shade
Flowering period: N/A
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 90cm
Eventual Spread: 1.5m
Hardiness: 6b – 11
Family: Poaceae
Pleioblastus auricomus is a slow growing evergreen bamboo with a compact, upright habit. Its leaves are mid green with yellow stripes, lanceolate with entire margins, up to 20cm long and 5cm broad. Its canes have a purple tinge. Its roots are rhizomes which aids its slow spread.
Pleioblastus auricomus, commonly known as Pleioblastus, is native to Japan. Pleioblastus auricomus is synonymous with Arundinaria auricoma and Pleioblastus viridistriatus.
The etymological root of the binomial name Pleioblastus Greek pleios meaning ‘many’ and blastos meaning ‘shoot’. Auricomus is derived from the Latin meaning ‘with golden leaves’.
The landscape architect may find Pleioblastus auricomus useful as a low growing ground cover bamboo with a dense habit.
Ecologically, Pleioblastus auricomus is of little wildlife value in the UK.
Pleioblastus auricomus (18/11/2012, Kew Gardens, London)
Pleioblastus auricomus prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil. It dislikes excessively alkali soils
Pleioblastus auricomus requires little maintenance. Large clumps may be divided in spring.
