Cane characteristics
 Chusquea culeou, with distinctive canes bearing 'tufts' of small leaves clustered at the nodes, has perhaps lost some of its earlier glamour since the introduction of many other desirable bamboos.
More beautiful is Chusquea breviglumis, with tufts of leaves held on long side branches. Unfortunately, this bamboo needs a huge space in which to develop properly as the canes are widely spaced out and can reach 9m (30ft) in height.
The canes of chusqueas are solid whereas with other bamboos they are hollow.
 Large-diameter canes are desirable, of course, but our British climate means that the heavy gauge - and height - of tropically grown bamboos can never be achieved; none the less, some varieties are impressive.
Phyllostachys bambusiodes at around 6-7.5m (20 to 25ft) is fast growing, but perhaps the best in terms of thick canes and good growth is Phyllostachys vivax. Given sufficient moisture and shelter, this plant, once established, may produce canes over two inches in diameter and 9m (30ft) high.
Phyllostachys viridiglaucescens is another good doer with impressive canes. |
