Needmore Bamboo Co.
 
                           
         
Pseudosasa Genus - I presently have 5 members of this genus but they are proving to be difficult to grow in my area - with one amazing exception Pseudosasa viridula.  I do not know if it is the vigor of the species or if my plant just really likes its site conditions but for me this one has sized up extremely quickly and has a beautiful form.   I once paid a pretty penny for a rare member of the genus - Pseudosasa japonica 'Akebono' but this plant died in the ground and I have elected not to replace it.   
    The common Pseudosasa japonica originally grew like wildfire the first year I had it, so much so that I dug it all out and relocated it where it has more room. I ended up with 17 pots and 2 in-ground plants from the original division in just 1 year. The 2 in-ground plants have since done nothing at all and the largest specimen in-ground I have is from a piece of the original that I missed digging out. In my area I have never seen it over 6 feet tall, whereas the Ps. viridula reached 9 feet tall in only 3 years and also has a superior form with 3 branches at the node as opposed to the single branch of Ps. japonica.
     The winter of 2005-06 was the mildest winter we have had recently, with temps dipping to +3F and the Ps. viridula suffered serious leaf burn with no culm damage, while all of the other forms were essentially killed back to within a few inches of the ground.  Therefore I expect them to topkill most winters and they should be considered an herbaceous perennial as I believe that their hardiness is generally overstated by as much as 10 degrees. Shade tolerant but for me they are larger in heavier light, although they are often cited as doing well indoors and I am testing this out.  
    With the exception of the Ps. viridula, the members of this genus have been disappointing enough that I have yet to obtain the purportedly hardiest member Ps. japonica 'Tsutsumiana' a 'lumpy' culm form of Ps. japonica.  This form is known as the buddha belly for cold climates but the belly characteristic is only obvious on larger diameter culms - which likely will not develop here - so I have not tried this one out.  If I were 1 zone warmer I think that my Pseudosasa longiligula would be a great plant and if I were 2 zones warmer I'd surely try the famous fly rod bamboo - Pseudosasa amabilis.		  
   
         
       
   A 3 year old  Pseudosasa japonica.		  
             
             
     
  My now deceased Pseudosasa japonica 'Akebono', showing 3 different leaf colors on the same plant.
               
               
     
Pseudosasa japonica 'Pleioblastoides' - This bamboo is sometimes listed as conspecific with Ps. viridula but I do not know if this is correct.
               
               
 
          Pseudosasa japonica 'Variegata'
   
 
     
 
         
           
   Pseudosasa longiligula - beautiful but not terribly hardy.  Despite being listed as hardier than Ps. amabilis, I suspect that it is not and for me it seems to top kill at around +10F.   The photo below was taken in October of 2007 and the plant has remained small due to annual top kill.
               
   
       
   
             
       
  Pseudosasa viridula - The most rewarding member of the genus for me to grow, it holds up well to 0F but leaf burn comes on when temps dip below zero. The bottom photo is a year later than the top one, enduring -5F with some culm damage, serious leaf burn but did leaf back out on numerous culms.