I bet you dollars to doughnuts that it's a Phyllostachys species. How tall
are the culms and their color? Culm thickness at base of mature growths?
Foliage color? Are the branches pendulous or upwards facing? Noticeable
sulcis groove of a different color on the culms?

Depending upon your answers, P. aurea, P. aureosulcata and even P. vivax
could be it. They are all hardy into that zone. Cultures are the same:
moist but not sodden ground, full-sun and some high nitrogen fertilizer if
you feel brave and don't have to worry about containing them from running
into areas that they're not wanted.

As a side note, I made several beautiful Kadomatsu out of some P. vivax for
relatives over the holidays. They are very popular among the Japanese in
Hawai`i as a New Years decoration in homes and businesses. Even here in the
NE TN mountains, P. vivax easily gets 40 ft. tall with 2.5"-3" culms. My
brother has P. aureosulcata at his place taller than his three-story house
and over 2" culms.

David Sizemore
Kingsport, TN (Zone 6a)


"David Gilbertson" wrote in message
...
Hi all,

We recently moved to suburban Philadelphia (zone 6 on the cusp of 7)
from a zone 4 on the cusp of 3 climate, and I find that I have a glorious
stand of bamboo at the back of our property.

It is beautifully dark evergreen, and it is currently waving at me
in the frigid breeze surrounded by a field of snow as I look out one of the
rear windows of our 284-year-old stone colonial home!

I was raised around bamboo (in Hawaii and the Philippine Islands),
so had no idea that a cold hardy variety even existed. I am a landscape
architect and would like to tend to it's cultural requirements. However, I
have not seen any available in local nurserys (though I do see other stands
of bamboo around this area) and have not consulted a nurseryman yet, but I
have looked through all of my horticulture plant identification "keys" to
find only "woody plants" and perennials.

Do any of you have any suggestions as to variety/cultivar, or how I
can find out how to take care of it?

Best regards,
David Randles Gilbertson, ASLA
416 W. Laurel Ave.
Cheltenham, PA 19012-2034
(215) 379-1047