Pleioblastus chino - Dwarf Bamboo

Pleioblastus chino is a hardy bamboo, perfectly adapted to harsh climates. Very evergreen and remarkably dense, it is covered with intense green foliage on more or less purple canes. The creeping rhizomes prove to be extremely efficient in creating a medium-sized hedge or stabilizing rocky slopes and embankments, even on a steep slope. Perfectly tolerant of pruning, this bamboo will also appeal to topiary enthusiasts.

The silhouette of Pleioblastus chino is very dense, compact and densely branched upwards. Perfectly suited to harsh winters, this medium-sized bamboo is native to northern Japan and belongs to the grass family Poaceae. It has solid canes, with a diameter of 2 cm (1in), which reach up to 3 or 4 m. Depending on their exposure, canes will be more or less tinged with purple on a green background. With fairly rapid growth, it spreads through its very travelling rhizomes over large areas and forms a beautiful rounded, bristling and dense bushy mass. Its perfectly evergreen foliage consists of long, fairly thin, beautifully vibrant, green leaves.

Perfectly hardy and very vigorous, Pleioblastus chino thrives so well in deep and moist soil, that it can become invasive. To contain its growth, we recommend giving it a large, unattractive embankment or using a bamboo root barrier. Hardy in all situations, it suits Zen, wild, exotic or contemporary gardens. Tolerating full sun well, it can be used to stabilize a slope or to surround a water feature. It can also create very beautiful evergreen hedges, for example along a path in a large garden or to define a property. This bamboo responds very well to pruning, it will adapt to the whims of every gardener. It can be cultivated in a pot, provided that the older canes are regularly removed to make room for new shoots.