Phyllostachys Sulphurea Viridis Ougon-kou Chiku Bamboo

Bamboo Phyllostachys Sulphurea Viridis: This running bamboo is also known as the Ougon-kou Chiku or Kou-Chiku bamboo.

There are two types Robert Young and Houzeua. The culms have opposite in green and yellow colours. The former (Robert Young) has yellow culms with green vertical stripes whereas the latter (Houzeau) is green with contrasting yellow stripes.

Phyllostachys Sulphurea Viridis is a stunning ornamental plant due to its appearance. At 4m average height, this bamboo is a great addition to woodland forests, large gardens and dense garden hedges.

It is edible bamboo.

General description

• Name: Phyllostachys Sulphurea Viridis, Ougon-kou Chiku Bamboo, Kou-Chiku Bamboo
• Foliage: Evergreen, slender thick leaves.
• Culm: Green and yellow.
• Height: 4m, upright.
• Spread: Running bamboo, invasive.

Growth requirement

• Site: Part shade to full sun.
• Soil: Tolerates clay soil.
• Hardiness: – 17 degrees Celsius, hardy to UK zone 7.
• Use: Medium garden hedge, container plant, an individual woodland plant, edible – low maintenance bamboo but invasive.

Grow bamboo Phyllostachys Sulphurea Viridis (Ougon-kou Chiku Bamboo)

Cultivate in contained spaces

Phyllostachys Sulphurea Viridis can grow to 4 metres, an ideal bamboo for woodlands or large gardens. This evergreen bamboo is better planted in a site where visitors can admire the contrasting green and yellow colours.

Use large heavy-duty container pots to grow this Phyllostachys bamboo. It may not grow to its maximum height and spread when grown in contained spaces.

The new shoots in the second, third and successive years will be reasonably taller than the first shoots.

So, do not be surprised if your Phyllostachys Sulphurea Viridis is taller than an average Phyllostachys bamboo in the container pots.

This running bamboo will definitely require repotting within 3 – 5 years.

Cultivar for large garden and woodland

Phyllostachys Sulphurea Viridis’s evergreen foliage, upright bright stems and arching branches are ideal for thick garden hedge.

As mentioned, the spectacular green and yellow colours on the large woody stems make this bamboo the ideal candidate for large gardens and woodland forests.

Perhaps it is important to note that the Phyllostachys Sulphurea Viridis (Ougon-kou Chiku Bamboo ) is an invasive bamboo, therefore building a bamboo barrier prior to planting it in the garden is the best thing to do.

The Ougon-kou Chiku Bamboo prefers well-drained, moist soil, but has been observed to do reasonably well in clay soils and high pH areas.

How to propagate Ougon-kou Chiku Bamboo

This bamboo originates from Japan and China. In the UK, many bamboo nurseries and bamboo enthusiasts grow this cultivar from Rhizome Cuttings.

You can also use Culm Cuttings or Bamboo Seeds to propagate Phyllostachys Sulphurea Viridis. However, bamboo seeds are often hard to find because bamboo rarely flowers. If you are lucky to have a rare bamboo seed, take extra care to grow them.

This step-by-step guide on How to Grow Bamboo from Seeds will help you to grow bamboo from seeds successfully.

5 Tips for Bamboo care: thin, prune, mulch, fertiliser and slug attack

Bamboos, like other plants, will require attention to grow well. The 2 tips are important when growing Phyllostachys Bamboos such as the Sulphurea Viridis (Ougon-kou Chiku Bamboo).

• Thinning bamboo plants once or twice a year to promote new growths and keep the plant under control. Selectively trim the old culms that you do not want within the bamboo grove. In fact, the new shoots will produce a spectacular reddish colour after thinning.
• Pruning bamboo is intensive work compared to thinning bamboo. Dig and remove the parts of the bamboo that have outgrown the allocated space. This is an ideal time to take the bamboo divisions for replanting.
• Mulching is a highly recommended care and maintenance job. It keeps the soil moist and protects the bamboo from frost and frozen soils.
  The bamboo leaves are fantastic mulch since they contain silicon which is naturally high in nitrogen. In addition, tree barks or other organic mulch rich in moisture are good for bamboo plants. The best time for mulching is early in Spring before the new bamboo shoots come out; or late in Autumn when you expect cold Winter.
• Fertilising bamboo promotes healthy growth. Though bamboos do not need fertilisers regularly, the old plants will benefit from the added nutrients. Add fertiliser to plants that are older than 5 years at least once a year. The NPK fertilisers or any that is high in nitrogen are ideal options.
• The large bamboos are pretty tolerant to pests, however, slugs will eat the tender shoots and leaves. If you are planting a new Phyllostachys Sulphurea Viridis or expecting fresh growth in Spring, add Slug and Snail Pellets to protect them.

Buy Phyllostachys Bamboos in the UK

The Phyllostachys Sulphurea Viridis has a distinctive upright growing habit and is hardy to -17 degrees Celsius – UK zone 7.

This bamboo is probably one of the best choices for large pots and thick garden hedges. It is also an ideal bamboo for large gardens and woodland forests.

Here are some great places where you can buy the Phyllostachys Bamboos in the UK. If the bamboo you are looking for is not available, please contact the Garden Shops directly or message us.

(We do not sell or receive any payment at Garden Bamboo Plants, G.B.P. We’re a bamboo website focusing on providing the right information and linking our UK visitors to well-known and reputable online shops.)

Bamboos similar to Phyllostachys Sulphurea Viridis

Below is a list of 5 other bamboos that are similar to the Phyllostachys Sulphurea Viridis. The similarities are based on height, spread and general appearances.

If you want a bamboo that looks and behaves like the Viridis, check out these 5 bamboos.

1. Phyllostachys rubromarginata Reddish bamboo
2. Phyllostachys flexuosa Sinuate Bamboo
3. Phyllostachys atrovaginata Incense Bamboo
4. Phyllostachys Aurea Bamboo Cultivars
5. Golden Groove Bamboo Spectabilis vs Aureocaulis

Phyllostachys Sulphurea Viridis (Ougon-kou Chiku Bamboo )

All in all, Phyllostachys Sulphurea Viridis is a stunning bamboo with contrasting green and yellow colours.

This bamboo is ideal as a standalone plant in large gardens and woodlands or planted close together to provide a thick garden hedge.

Garden Bamboo Plants UK

At G.B.P, our goal is to provide the right information for selecting the right bamboo to grow in the garden and in pots and containers.

We also provide tips and guides on how to provide the right care and maintenance for bamboo plants. See our work on Bamboo Care and Maintenance and download a free Guide to Growing Bamboo in the UK.

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