Sasa hyatae Leaf (11/03/2012, Kew, London)
Position: Sun to shade
Flowering period: Unknown
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 1m
Eventual Spread: Indefinite
Hardiness: 6b – 10b
Family: Poaceae
Sasa hyatae is a dwarf, running bamboo. Its mid green leaves are lanceolate with entire margins, glossy on the upper surface, have fine hairs on the underside, are up to 20 cm long and 4.5cm wide. During the winter months its leaves may have white/ cream margins. Its roots are rhizomes enabling this plant to spread, it can be very invasive.
Sasa hyatae, commonly known as Broadleafed Bamboo, is native to China and possibly Japan.
The etymological root of the binomial name Sasa is from the Japanese name for certain dwarf bamboos. Hayate is named after the Japanese botanist Bunzo Hayata (1874-1934).
Sasa hyatae (11/03/2012, Kew, London)
The landscape architect may find Sasa hyatae useful as an effective low growing, evergreen ground cover plant. It will form an effective evergreen low hedge. Consideration should be given to this plant’s potentially invasive nature when specifying.
Ecologically, S. hyatae is of little wildlife value in the UK.
S. hyatae prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.
S. hyatae requires little maintenance. Spreading rhizomes may be removed on an annual basis. A root barrier may be used to restrict the spread of this plant.
