Sasa palmata (30/11/2014, Kew Gardens, London)
Position: Full sun to shade
Flowering period: N/A
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 2m
Eventual Spread: 6m
Hardiness: 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a
Family: Poaceae
Sasa palmata is a low growing, evergreen, moderately spreading bamboo with a clump forming, spreading habit. Its mid green leaves are linear with entire margins, up to 30cm long and 8cm broad. Its leaf margins turn pale brown in winter. Its canes are initially green becoming brown/ black with age and up to 1cm in diameter. Its flowers is a panicle and as with most bamboos the plant will most probably die after flowering. Its roots are rhizomes which aids its slow spread.
Sasa palmata, commonly known as Broad Leaved Bamboo, is native to Japan and east Russia.
The etymological root of the binomial name Sasa is from the Japanese name for certain dwarf bamboos. Palmata is derived from the Latin palmatum meaning ‘palm like’, in reference to the leaves.
The landscape architect may find Sasa palmata useful as a low growing informal hedging bamboo. It is an effective ground cover bamboo and is suitable for woodland planting.
Sasa palmata Leaf (30/11/2014, Kew Gardens, London)
Ecologically, Sasa palmata is of little wildlife value in the UK.
Sasa palmata prefers moist, fertile, humus rich, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil. It dislikes dry soils.
Sasa palmata requires little maintenance. A root barrier may be installed to prevent the excessive spread in compact locations.