Red bamboo......

Received a question from a Facebook Fan on my Mad Man Bamboo Nursery facebook page. Question was whether I have run across bamboo with red leaves.

The answer..... no, not full red, sometimes you'll get slight hints of red, like new keaves on Hibanobambusa tranquillans 'Shiroshima.'

But there are bamboo plants that get vibrant red culms when exposed to bright sunlight and/or cold.

Phylostachys aurea 'Spectabalis', Phylostachys bambusoides 'Castillon', Himalayacalamus falconeri damarapi 'Candystripe Bamboo' and Semiarundaria yashadake 'Kimmei' are varieties that show this trait. There are other examples as well.

Pictured top to bottom are Himalayacalamus falconeri damarapi 'Candystripe Bamboo', Phylostacys bambusoides 'Castillon' and Semiarundaria yashadake 'Kimmei.'

Cheers!

Sean