Bambusa vulgaris 'Vittata' (Painted Bamboo) - A large tender clumping bamboo with a maximum height of 50 feet under optimum conditions. Large arching golden-yellow culms have green vertical stripes that look like drip marks. Branches are often striped as well.
Plant in full coastal sun to light shade or bright light indoors and irrigate regularly to occasionally. The culms are hardy to 27 degrees F, although our plant in the garden resprouted after suffering 18° F temperatures in the Christmas 1990 freeze.
The native location this plant is uncertain, because this species has been widely cultivated for such a long time. The name for the genus comes from the Dutch word 'bamboes' or 'bamboo' that was a modification of Malay word 'bambu' and the specific epithet is Latin for "public" or "common" in reference to the plant being common in the wild or in cultivation. The cultivar name is from the Latin words 'vitta' meaning a "band" and "-ata" meaning "possessing" in reference to the banded culms. The name Bambusa vulgaris 'Striata' is listed as being the current name in "The Bamboos of the World" by Dieter Ohrnberger (1999). This plant is sometimes also commonly called the Golden Hawaiian Bamboo.
We grew this attractive plant from 1999 until 2014 and have a large stand of it in our nursery garden.
The information about Bambusa vulgaris 'Vittata' 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. |