Pseudosasa japonica Tsutsumiana - Arrow Bamboo

Pseudosasa japonica 'Tsutsumiana' is a medium-sized bamboo that is not only extremely decorative but also easy to grow in any soil and under most of our climates. It is recognized by its straight canes of beautiful olive green, with swollen nodes that resemble shallot bulbs. Its tight clump habit and its abundant foliage of dark green and glossy leaves are other assets of this weakly trailing bamboo that takes its time to reach its full potential. Truly evergreen, it works wonders as a free or trimmed hedge, as an isolated clump in a small garden, or as a stunning focal point in a container on a terrace or balcony. Place it in a semi-shaded or even shaded position, as its foliage dislikes direct sunlight.

Introduced around 1980 in France by F. Picard and F. Martin, Pseudosasa japonica 'Tsutsumiana' is a particularly hardy plant native to Japan, capable of withstanding temperatures as low as -25°C (-13 °F). It belongs to the Poaceae family, and is a type of giant grass with woody stems and weakly trailing rhizomes, which may need to be contained with anti-rhizome barriers. Its growth is very slow, taking several years to reach maturity. It has an upright habit at the base, with a bushy, dense, highly branched and slightly trailing crown. It produces classic-looking canes (or culms) when young, then they swell at the nodes from the second year onwards. The emerald green nodes are topped by an almost black ring, while the cauline sheaths are persistent and beige to orange in colour. At maturity, the culms can measure 1.5 to 3.5cm (0.6 to 1.4in) in diameter and 3 to 4m (9ft 10in to 13ft) in height. The abundant foliage consists of large leaves, glossy dark green in colour, measuring 25cm (9.8in) long and approximately 1.5 to 3cm (0.6 to 1.2in) wide. It is evergreen, but the leaves fall and renew twice a year, mainly in autumn but also in spring. 

Undisputed star of Asian-inspired gardens, bamboo suits many styles, from the most contemporary to the most exotic, including natural gardens or water gardens. When planted as a specimen, Pseudosasa japonica 'Tsutsumiana' allows for the creation of beautiful hedges on property boundaries, lush evergreen bouquets when isolated, or opulent pots on the terrace. Its graphics and strong presence bring a lot of character to even the most modest decor, in all our regions. Its density makes it an excellent candidate to form an efficient and elegant privacy screen, especially when planted in fertile and fresh soil. Bamboos blend well together, choose varieties of similar vigor, with culms of different colors. Bamboos are always perfect near water features, as they appreciate the cool atmosphere.