Protect from hot direct summer sun inland and from reflected heat along the coast when grown in full sun. Irrigate regularly to occasionally. Hardy to 0° F. A wonderful specimen plant for a container, in an Asian or tropical themed garden, or mixed with blade-leafed plants and grasses. This bamboo is particularly sensitive to salts and minerals in the air, water and soil, which results in leaf tip burn.

Phyllostachys nigra is native to Hunan Province of China and has been widely cultivated elsewhere. The name for the genus means "leaf spike" and is in reference to the inflorescences. The specific epithet is the Latin feminine form of niger, which is Latin for "black" in reference to this plant's dark black culms. It received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit in 1993. We grew this plant from 1988 until 2020. 

The information about Phyllostachys nigra displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant.