Black Bamboo's swan song? - is the 100 year cycle now?

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by Stuart Fawcett, Jul 20, 2021.

  1. Stuart Fawcett

    Stuart Fawcett Gardener

    Joined:
    May 13, 2021
    Messages:
    40
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    IT
    Location:
    WOKING
    Ratings:
    +104
    Hi There,

    My Black bamboo, Phyllostachys nigra, has been growing a storm for a number of years now and looking great.
    However this year its flowering:
    IMG_20210720_101642533_HDR.jpg

    Pretty in its own way, but not a patch on its normal self, However looking further on the web it seems that the flowering cycle for Phyllostachys nigra might well be every 60 years - lucky to see it you might say, but also it seems that this is unfortunately a likely end to the plant :(
    What odd is that even small cuttings I've taken from runners are also flowering, as is new growth 2 feet tall. Again reading on the web it seems that ALL bamboo of the same types flowers at the same time WORLDWIDE. I'm still looking for confirmation of this. but it seems scientists find this synchronised cycle amazing and are unsure as to why.
    So it looks like this will be my last bean cane harvest for a while whilst i source new plants or get luck that fresh seed falls and roots for me. That should see me well for another 60 years ;)

    Is this really happening for others? Will I have new growth next year, will all my cuttings die off. What other types of bamboo might i consider to replace them?

    Happy to hear of others opinions?
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Nikolaos

      Nikolaos Total Gardener

      Joined:
      Jun 26, 2019
      Messages:
      1,714
      Gender:
      Male
      Location:
      Midlands, UK
      Ratings:
      +4,288
      That's incredible, I'd never heard of it before and have just been doing a bit of reading on it!

      Bamboo Botanicals - Bamboo Flowering

      It sounds like you can probably propagate it from seed as well as hoping that it self-seeds Stuart, the RHS recommends a 50/50 mix of MPC/vermiculite. :dunno: It mentions that many species germinate within a fortnight at the latest, don't know if that includes yours but surely worth a go if it's a plant you're fond of! :)

      "Bamboos can be propagated from seed, although, because supply is irregular, it is a less common method of propagation. Sow seed fresh as soon as it is ripe. Viable seeds feel solid like grain - papery ones will not germinate.

      • Use a multi-purpose compost with 50 per cent vermiculite added to provide good drainage, and sow seed onto the surface of the compost
      • Many species germinate within a week or two in a minimum temperature of 10°C (50°F)
      • To reduce the risk of damping off, keep seedlings growing through winter in the house, or alternatively in cooler, but dryer conditions"
      Bamboo

      Nick
       
      • Friendly Friendly x 1
      • NigelJ

        NigelJ Total Gardener

        Joined:
        Jan 31, 2012
        Messages:
        6,042
        Gender:
        Male
        Occupation:
        Mad Scientist
        Location:
        Paignton Devon
        Ratings:
        +20,946
        • Like Like x 1
        • Informative Informative x 1
        • Stuart Fawcett

          Stuart Fawcett Gardener

          Joined:
          May 13, 2021
          Messages:
          40
          Gender:
          Male
          Occupation:
          IT
          Location:
          WOKING
          Ratings:
          +104
          Thanks Nick, Yeah i like the idea of that - Quick and easy if it works from seed - also might be nice if I can pass some onto my Sis-in-law - I'd promised her the grown on rhizomes i was growing but now worry about them dying when i give them to her. I'll watch for good seed and give that a go :)
           
          • Like Like x 1
          • Stuart Fawcett

            Stuart Fawcett Gardener

            Joined:
            May 13, 2021
            Messages:
            40
            Gender:
            Male
            Occupation:
            IT
            Location:
            WOKING
            Ratings:
            +104
          • pete

            pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

            Joined:
            Jan 9, 2005
            Messages:
            47,698
            Gender:
            Male
            Occupation:
            Retired
            Location:
            Mid Kent
            Ratings:
            +84,318
            I'm just wondering what happens if you cut it down.
            Not suggesting you cut it all down, but just a thought, if you stop it from flowering the roots might just not die.
             
            • Useful Useful x 1
            • Creative Creative x 1
            • Stuart Fawcett

              Stuart Fawcett Gardener

              Joined:
              May 13, 2021
              Messages:
              40
              Gender:
              Male
              Occupation:
              IT
              Location:
              WOKING
              Ratings:
              +104
              I think that's a good idea Pete - I'll try it on some rhizome cuttings hoping they may then grow quicker than seeds. Unfortunately its full on flowering now as I did not understand what was happening when it first started.
              Of course it may just mean they flower again next year instead then die as all I've done is stall their natural cycle. What i love and hate about gardening is how long it takes to find out how plants are affected by what we do to them :)
               
              • Like Like x 1
              • Giri

                Giri Gardener

                Joined:
                Jul 4, 2021
                Messages:
                218
                Gender:
                Male
                Occupation:
                Architectural Blacksmith (in recovery).
                Location:
                Andalucia, Spain
                Ratings:
                +653
                I was surprised to read that bamboo can spread by seed, it is a problem here because it invades the water channels and is virtually impossible to remove.
                Your´s may flower and die Pete, but your neighbours might soon find new examples of this highly invasive plant erupting in their flower beds.
                I´m sure they´d give you a cutting ...
                 
              • pete

                pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

                Joined:
                Jan 9, 2005
                Messages:
                47,698
                Gender:
                Male
                Occupation:
                Retired
                Location:
                Mid Kent
                Ratings:
                +84,318
                I don't actually have real bamboo ,ok I do have 3 clumps of supposedly B. Pubescens, I grew from seed 25yr ago.
                It seems to go through a juvenile stage for a number of years.

                One of my clumps is just showing adult stems.
                Should add I don't look after them very well.
                 
                • Like Like x 1
                • pete

                  pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

                  Joined:
                  Jan 9, 2005
                  Messages:
                  47,698
                  Gender:
                  Male
                  Occupation:
                  Retired
                  Location:
                  Mid Kent
                  Ratings:
                  +84,318
                  Also, isn't black bamboo a variety rather than a species?
                  Not sure if it would come true from seed.
                   
                  • Agree Agree x 1
                  • NigelJ

                    NigelJ Total Gardener

                    Joined:
                    Jan 31, 2012
                    Messages:
                    6,042
                    Gender:
                    Male
                    Occupation:
                    Mad Scientist
                    Location:
                    Paignton Devon
                    Ratings:
                    +20,946
                    • Informative Informative x 2
                    • flounder

                      flounder Super Gardener

                      Joined:
                      Apr 26, 2020
                      Messages:
                      750
                      Gender:
                      Male
                      Occupation:
                      RETIRED!!
                      Location:
                      Brighton
                      Ratings:
                      +1,536
                      My understanding is it will flower over a period of a few years. A few million seeds will probably germinate to repopulate the dying clump/stand. This can be a total nightmare as a lot of the phyllostachys can be...shall we say unruly? If you are using a restrictive root barrier the seeds will invariably germinate outside of this! You should end up with a lot of plant swaps.....I'm interested
                       
                    • Sirius

                      Sirius Total Gardener

                      Joined:
                      Jun 26, 2012
                      Messages:
                      1,426
                      Gender:
                      Male
                      Location:
                      Hertfordshire
                      Ratings:
                      +1,225
                      I have had a few bamboos flower

                      Chusquea gigantea flowered about 4 years ago.
                      It tried desperately to keep shooting new leaves on older culms. No new culms. Was looking terrible by last year, so I chopped it out. I have recently noticed a few seedlings in the area where the parent plant was

                      Fargesia nitida flowering this year. Looked dreadful and have also removed it.
                       
                      • Informative Informative x 2
                      • Like Like x 1
                        Last edited: Jul 21, 2021
                      • NigelJ

                        NigelJ Total Gardener

                        Joined:
                        Jan 31, 2012
                        Messages:
                        6,042
                        Gender:
                        Male
                        Occupation:
                        Mad Scientist
                        Location:
                        Paignton Devon
                        Ratings:
                        +20,946
                        @Sirius My fargesia nitidia flowered about 5 years ago and I took it out the following year, found a few seedlings, but many.
                         
                        • Like Like x 1
                        Loading...

                        Share This Page

                        1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
                          By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
                          Dismiss Notice