"Tom Bennett" wrote in message
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"Stan The Man" wrote in message
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A friend of mine bought some good quality mature plants to dress a TV
location and he has over-ordered so is offering me a very tall black
bamboo (approx 6m) in a large tub. He wants £100 for it and since I'm
looking for some attractive screening plants anyway, I'm tempted. The
plant looks healthy enough and is being regularly watered. There are
approx 20 stems, a few of which are already black while others are
presumably in the process of turning black. Lots of healthy looking
leaves.

First question: is this a steal at £100?

Second question: Is the black bamboo one of the varieties that roots
like a mad thing all over the place if not shackled?

Third question: Can I leave this out all year round?

Last question: My soil is clay and it gets pretty soft. Will it die if
it doesn't have good drainage?

Thanks for your help.

From your description, it sounds like Phyllostachys nigra. It's a
vigorous bamboo and it does run extensively but 6m tall is pretty large
for this country. I'd expect 3m, maybe 4m, so it's possible that the
plant has been grown in a polytunnel or has been imported from somewhere a
bit warmer and I wouldn't think that subsequent canes would reach 6m.

Having said that, P. nigra is perfectly hardy and I grew it in NE England
for over 15 years, until I moved south. Most of the bamboos are pricey
but this often reflects the effort needed to produce them. If it is 6m,
then you're getting it for a good price. Smaller plants (say in 5 litre
pots) can be up to £40 and I've seen 10 litre plants at £80.

It's obviously up to you but my advice is always to get the cheapest
(smallest) plant. They grow so fast that, IME, you're only a year or two
behind the larger plants, anyway.

Good luck.

- Tom.


Waterperry garden centre used to have two very large tubs with Phillostachys
nigra growing in them each side of their main entrance. This stuff was
easily 6m tall, possibly more. I think they were for sale though they were
in the £450 range a few years ago.

They were not there last year, but the whole front entrance had been
redesigned so whether they were sold or not I don't know.

It can certainly be invasive, but it's main requirement to be happy is
plenty of water, so poor drainage should not present too much of a problem.

As for whether you should buy it, I think if I could persuade my wife then I
certainly would, you'll not get an offer like that again anytime soon I
shouldn't think.

Duncan