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Chusquea gigantea

A very tall bamboo forming slowly-spreading clumps to 4m wide and upright canes to 15m or more in ideal conditions. The solid canes up to 6cm in diameter have a striped appearance with a green band around the nodes and yellow-green colouring between the nodes; leaves are mid-green, up to 12cm long and narrowly lances-shaped

Synonyms
Chusquea breviglumis misapplied
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Size
Ultimate height
Higher than 12 metres
Time to ultimate height
5–10 years
Ultimate spread
2.5–4 metres
Growing conditions
Loam
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Green Cream Yellow Green
Summer Green Cream Yellow Green
Autumn Green Yellow Green
Winter Green Yellow Green
Position
  • Full sun
  • Partial shade
Aspect

South–facing or West–facing or East–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H4
Botanical details
Family
Poaceae
Native to GB / Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Clump forming
Genus

Chusquea are evergreen clump-forming bamboos with smooth, glossy, solid canes with 3 main branches at each node, these branching-freely and bearing copious small, dark green leaves

Name status

Correct

Plant range
Chile

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in a moist but well-drained, fertile soil in full sun and water well in dry spells; see bamboo cultivation for further information

Propagation

Propagate by seed or by removing sections of rhizomes with a stem and root, in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Architectural
  • Hedging and screens
Pruning

Remove weak, dead, damaged or spindly stems in spring and to show off stems to best effect. Cut out any flowering shoots promptly to discourage more from forming - see bamboo cultivation

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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