Phyllostachys aurea bamboo varieties are resilient running bamboos that grow well in shade, part shade and sun and in variable soil conditions. They have spectacular shiny slim leaves and stripes with slender culms that mature to a peculiar golden yellow or green.
These bamboos are commonly called Fish-pole Golden bamboos because of their appearances. Some have yellow culms with green stripes and are often mistaken for the other yellow Phyllostachys Bamboos.
Do you know there are several varieties of Phyllostachys aurea? Let’s take a look at the four varieties that are common in the UK, US and Australia.
What are common Phyllostachys aurea bamboos?
Many garden centres and online marketplaces like eBay and Amazon sell the Phyllostachys aurea bamboo without indicating the exact variety. But you do not have to worry. If you know these simple variations, you can identify the different Phyllostachys aurea cultivators.
Here are quick tips to help you with the four Phyllostachys aurea cultivars.
- Phyllostachys aurea ‘Koi’: This is the popular variety among the Phyllostachys aurea group, also known as the Golden Koi Bamboo. It has bright yellow canes with green stripes just above the branches. Its features are opposite of ‘Flavescens Inversa’.
- Phyllostachys aurea ‘Flavescens Inversa’: This variety has shiny green culms that are flattened where the branches are. Flavescens Inversa’ is the opposite of ‘Koi’ and has stunning yellow stripes just above the green branches.
- Phyllostachys aurea ‘Takemurai’: This Fish-pole Golden Bamboo will turn golden yellow very quickly compared to its other cousins. It is smaller with broad leaves, has shorter internodes and produces dense arching foliage. It tends to behave more like clumping bamboos in cooler climates.
- Phyllostachys aurea ‘Holochrysa’: This Fish-pole Golden Bamboo grows much larger and taller than its other cousins. ‘Holochyrsa’ is sometimes mistaken for Phyllostachys Vivax due to its height and stem colouration, but Vivax is a Timber Bamboo and much bigger in comparison.
(Let us know in the comment if there are other varieties that are growing in your area).
Phyllostachys aurea ‘Flavescens Inversa’ (R) | Sleder Tall Fish-pole Bamboo Sticks (L)
Common features of Phyllostachys aurea bamboos
We covered the qualities and features of Phyllostachys aurea in detail in this article, the Fish-pole Golden bamboo. Generally, their stems are flattened on one side. The branches appear in pairs at the node with slim elongated shiny leaves.
Phyllostachys aurea bamboo culms appear light green and gradually turn yellow when the bamboo culms mature, except for the green culm Phyllostachys aurea ‘Flavescens Inversa’. The green and golden yellow stem colourations are often prominent in sun.
Although these running bamboos are invasive, they are ideal for gardens and can be well contained in small spaces. They are perfect for tall garden hedging and privacy screening or for planting in pots and containers.
Why is Phyllostachys aurea called Fish-pole Golden Bamboo?
The Phyllostachys aurea bamboos are tall and upright plants. Their tough and long golden yellow culms have been used as fishing poles in China and other parts of Asia and the Pacific regions.
That is probably the reason why the Phyllostachys aurea bamboo has been called the Fish-pole Golden Bamboo.
Today many gardeners are using the tough Fish-pole Golden bamboo canes as sticks for staking plants in the garden and pots. Their tough and flexible canes are ideal for making climbing frames and sticks for pot plants and other garden plants that needed support.
The sticks are not too big like the Bamboo Vivax poles or too small like some clumping bamboos seen in the UK. They are just the right bamboo for garden and pot plants.
How to take care of Phyllostachys aurea?
The running bamboos are resilient plants. They tend to thrive in the UK and are commonly used as privacy screens and for garden hedging.
However, these bamboos will require care and maintenance as they grow. Use the two tips below to help your plants grow unobstructed!
- Firstly, add Slug and Snail pellets to protect them when your bamboos put out new growths.
- Secondly, tall culms and new tender shoots will require staking.
We have seen slugs devouring the new plants in one visit. The Fish-pole Golden bamboos are no different, they are prone to slug attacks. So, apply the Snail and Slug pellets to stop the slugs from damaging the new growths.
The support you provide will encourage the tall plants to grow upright and protect the new tender culms from the wind.
Furthermore, if you grow the Phyllostachys aurea bamboos in pots, they will require some support. Staking them is one option. Another option is to use a rope to tie the culms into a tight grove, providing a neat and upright hedge or screen.
The ideal time to care for your bamboo is when the new growths are coming out early in Spring to Summer. If you have problems dealing with bamboo in the garden or in containers, here is a detailed guide that will help you to deal with the common bamboo problems.
Root Barrier essential for running bamboos
Root barrier is essential for containing the rhizomes of invasive plants like the Phyllostachys aurea. They are running bamboos, top above the invasive varieties. In fact, they will require some sort of barrier, either as raised beds, pots and containers or trench.
Create a root barrier before planting running bamboo, unless you are growing them in a contained space.
If your bamboo does not have a root barrier, here are some places where you can get one. The plastic root barriers are formidable – strong enough to stop rhizomes from spreading.
Slugs and Snails Killer | |
Feeds and Fertilisers | |
Rhizomes/Roots Barrier | |
Heavy Duty Pots and Planters |
When to attend to your running bamboo plants?
If you are planning to build a roots barrier or thin out your running bamboo rhizomes and culms, do it in early Spring.
Always add the access soil and mulch to the base of the bamboo plants and tidy up before Summer. This will stimulate the plants to grow within weeks.
The best mulch for bamboo plants is bamboo leaves. Rake the leaves and put them back near or around the bamboo – here is why the bamboo leaves are better mulch.
Finally, you can identify the Phyllostachys aurea from the stem and colour variations before buying it. You don’t have to wait until your Phyllostachys aura bamboo grows big to find out. Use the identifiable features in this article to find out and provide ongoing care and maintenance for your Phyllostachys aurea, the Fish-pole Golden Bamboo.