Plant in full cool sun or in light shade and irrigate regularly. Hardy to 0 degrees F. With the tufts of foliage this bamboo has a very sculptural look which can be enhance by pruning. Great as a potted specimen or for use in the ground. The American Bamboo Society lists this bamboo as a candidate for indoor use in low light situation.

Pleioblastus shibuyanus 'Tsuboi' was first imported by the American Bamboo Society from Japan in 1986 and while there is considerable disagreement on the ultimate height of this plant, with some references stating that it can reach 9 feet tall, our original stock plants remained around a foot tall from 2003 until 2012, the period we were growing this variety.

Pleioblastus pygmaeus is unknown in the wild but has long been cultivated in Asia and thought to be originally native to forests of central and southern Japan. The name for the genus comes from the Greek words 'pleios' meaning "more" and 'blastos' meaning "bud' in reference to the several buds that emerge at each stem node and the specific epithet is likely a reference to Shibuya City, a ward of Tokyo City. The Kew database synonomizes this species with Pleioblastus variegatus. 

The information about Pleioblastus shibuyanus 'Tsuboi' 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.