Golden Bamboo is one of the better behaved Phyllostachys, though it still requires root barrier if planted in the ground. It’s a popular choice for those looking for a bamboo with a more subtle color effect.
Phyllostachys aurea produces olive green canes which mature to a golden yellow, particularly in full sun. The leaves are delicate and pleasantly pale green in colour. It is a pachymorph (thick rhizome) bamboo, that produces sturdy culms which are grooved on alternative sides between the nodes.
I. Appearance and Characteristics
Phyllostachys aurea is a species of bamboo, and is of the ‘running bamboo’ type, belonging to the diverse Bambuseae tribe. It is native to Fujian and Zhejiang in China. It is commonly known by the names fishpole bamboo, golden bamboo, monk’s belly bamboo, and fairyland bamboo (Australia).
Phyllostachis aurea is cultivated as an ornamental plant for gardens. In the United States, Australia, South Africa and Italy, it is considered an invasive species that crowds out native species and becomes a monoculture that is difficult to remove. It is a cold-hardy bamboo, performing well in USDA zones 6 to 10, (Connecticut to Florida). In the UK it has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. It is a tall evergreen species growing to 8 m (26 ft) tall by 4 m (13 ft) broad. Like most bamboos it can become invasive if kept in warm, moist conditions in good quality soil with access to full sunlight. It is a prohibited species in New York.
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
Golden bamboo grows best where it gets full sun for at least six to eight hours a day, though where it gets very hot, some late-afternoon shade is beneficial. It will do fine located in partial shade, but its growth will be slower.
Temperature and Humidity
Golden bamboo thrives in hot and humid areas, but will do fine in less-ideal conditions. It will even grow in cold weather, though not as quickly or as tall as it does where it’s warm.
Watering
Golden bamboo does best with consistently moist conditions. In hot summer months without regular rainfall, you may need to water your bamboo a few times a week if grown in a container, and at least weekly in a garden environment. However, part of the appeal of golden bamboo is its easy-going nature—it’s worth mentioning that the plant is surprisingly drought-tolerant once fully established, and can even cope in soggy (but not waterlogged) conditions, too.
Soil
While golden bamboo isn’t terribly particular about its care, it does prefer to be planted in soil that is moist, well-draining, and full of organic nutrients. If the soil is poor and infertile, golden bamboo may not work as well for privacy screening, as it tends to form in irregular clumps instead of hedges or fences when depleted of nutrients.
Planting Instructions
You can plant golden bamboo in spring or fall, and in the right conditions, it will quickly grow to full height and density in just a few years. When planting a nursery-grown golden bamboo plant, dig a hole as deep as the plant’s container and twice as wide as the root ball. Place the plant in the hole, then backfill it with soil mixed with mulch. Water deeply. Subsequent waterings should keep the soil moist but not soggy.
Install root barriers around these perennials when planting them in the landscape unless you are prepared for a seemingly infinite spread. Or plant each one in a large plastic pot sunk into the soil with the rim of the pot extending 3 to 5 inches above the ground. This will help prevent golden bamboo from creeping into the surrounding soil. Space your golden bamboo plants at least 3 to 5 feet apart to accommodate future growth or wider if you want a less dense, airier look.
Pruning
Cutaway golden bamboo’s dead or weak stems periodically after it’s established. If it’s getting bulky, you can thin it out as needed. To highlight the tortoise-shell coloring of the stalks, remove leaves that grow along the lower portions near the base.
Golden bamboo is tough to eradicate once it is established in the ground. Be persistent. Cut plants as close to the ground as possible. Watch for new growth and repeat cutting several times during the growing season as necessary until underground rhizomes die. Chemical herbicides are occasionally effective, too. Follow application directions carefully.
Propagation
Because golden bamboo rarely flowers and doesn’t generally produce seeds, propagation should be done with cuttings. While success is not guaranteed, as bamboo isn’t the easiest plant to propagate, you’ll often have luck with the following method:
- Cut a section of cane that’s around 10 inches long and contains at least three nodes (the rings around the canes). Make your cuts on a 45-degree angle.
- Dip one cut end of the cane into a powdered rooting hormone. Tap off excess powder.
- Plant the cane in a container of rich, well-draining potting soil, burying the end with the rooting hormone deep enough to cover the first node.
- Mist the soil thoroughly and press it down to remove air pockets. Mist the soil daily, or as often as required to keep it damp but not soggy.
- Fill the center of the cut cane with water. Check every couple of days and replace water as needed to keep the cane mostly full.
- Place the container in a warm area with partial sunlight, but not in intense, direct sunlight.
- You’ll notice your cutting is beginning to grow taller within a few weeks. After three to four months, transplant your new golden bamboo plant to your desired growing location, whether that’s in a larger outdoor container or in the ground.
Potting and Repotting
Avoid unwanted spreading by planting golden bamboo in a container at least 24 inches deep and wide. The pot should be wood or unglazed terra-cotta with drainage holes at the bottom. Place the pot on a sturdy, impenetrable surface, such as concrete to prevent the ground from being invaded. After planting, cover the soil surface with two inches of mulch to help it retain moisture. Water a potted golden bamboo three times a week during the summer, more often if the temperature reaches 90°F, so the soil doesn’t dry out.
Overwintering
If grown in USDA garden zones 6-10, golden bamboo generally will survive the winter without any special care. However, if an especially severe cold snap is predicted, you can help your bamboo survive by covering the soil around it with a thick layer of mulch to help hold in warmth.
Pests and Diseases
Common Diseases
Though it’s a fairly hardy plant, golden bamboo does have a few issues it must contend with. Root rot is one of the biggest issues for golden bamboo—it can start either at the root of the plant or within the cane, eventually killing the plant. Sooty mold is yet another problem for bamboo, a fungal issue caused by the presence of mealybugs, aphids, and scale on the plant.
Your best defense against disease is to maintain a proper distance between your bamboo plants for air circulation, and water the plants at the base instead of into the middle of the dense foliage.
Common Problems
Pay attention to your watering schedule, and you’ll head off most problems with golden bamboo before they begin. But the following are some common indications that something is amiss.
- Leaves Turning Yellow
Yellowing leaves or excessive loss of leaves is usually due to either too much water or too little. Consider your watering schedule, as well as the condition of the soil around your bamboo plant. If the soil is very dry, lack of water is likely the issue. If it seems soggy, has a sour smell, or has become a home for small black fungus gnats, too much water is the likely problem. Adjust your watering schedule as indicated, and most likely the plant will recover.
- Leaves Curling
If your bamboo’s leaves curl and remain curled, it probably isn’t getting enough water. However, if the leaves curl during the afternoon but smooth out again in the evening, too much heat or sunlight is the likeliest explanation. Adjust your watering schedule, move the container to a protected location, or provide a shade structure for the plant until the peak temperatures are over.
- Foliage Is Thin
Bamboo is a hungry plant. If you do not fertilize it at least once per year, and ideally two or three times, it can become thin and skimpy, rather than lush and full. Revive your plant by fertilizing it yearly in the spring and summer, with an additional fall feeding in mild-winter climates.
III. Uses and Benefits
Healing properties
- The compounds in Golden Bamboo exhibit anti-inflammatory properties, hence a possible reduction of inflammation in different health diseases.
- Packed with flavonoids and phenolic antioxidants, Golden Bamboo helps counteract free radicals, shields against oxidative stress and promotes well-being.
- Extracts from Golden Bamboo have shown the potential to promote wound healing. Bioactive components present in the plant help regenerate skin cells, which supports the healing process.
- In some ways, golden bamboo is helpful to combat certain infections due to its antimicrobial properties. This is because of particular bioactive ingredients present in the plant.
Traditional remedies
- Golden Bamboo is a known traditional medicine that is reputed to have fever-reducing effects. Bamboo leaves and shoots are thought to cool the body from the inside after they have been boiled down to decoctions or infusions.
- Golden Bamboo has been used traditionally for treating respiratory problems. Its anti-inflammatory properties may offer some relief from cough and asthma-related symptoms for respiratory support.
- Golden Bamboo has become a traditional remedy for joint health. Its anti-inflammatory action is supposed to help alleviate symptoms of joint pain and swelling in arthritic conditions.
- According to history, Golden Bamboo has been used as a natural remedy for digestion. Plant compounds also support gut health, maintaining an optimal gut environment.
