Lewis Bamboo
Vivax
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Characteristics of Phyllostachys Vivax
This is a giant bamboo that will get very large quickly. The canes have thin walls, which makes them easy to split for working with crafts. This gentle giant bamboo can easily be recognized from a distance by its elegant drooping foliage.
Why choose this bamboo?
- Obtains mature size faster than most all species.
- Typically produces less numerous but larger diameter canes.
- Large foliage and slightly off-set cane sections provide a unique appearance.
Phyllostachys Vivax is a very cold hardy giant bamboo similar in appearance to 'Japanese Timber Bamboo. Vivax sizes up the fastest of all large bamboo and is always in high demand.
For a Phyllostachys, it has very large leaves with deep green colors. The culm (cane) sheaths are creamy buff color with brown spotting. The oral setae and auricles are absent from the culm sheaths. Small or juvenile plants will not have the same coloring but will have characteristics such as the absence of oral setae or auricles. Shoots of juveniles will be lighter in coloration in most climates. Aggressive in full sun.
In USDA Climate Zone 7 expect mature size canes to be over 40 feet in height possibly growing to near 70 feet.
In USDA Climate Zone 6 expect mature size canes to be 30 feet in height.
In climate zones 7 and warmer, Vivax is an excellent choice. Growing to 40 feet tall on Long Island, N.Y. Vivax has been reported to handle temperatures to -10 F. If you grow this timber bamboo in colder areas such as climate zone 6, expect culm damage from ice and snow damage. The thin-walled culm of this giant snaps with heavy ice and snow loads which is common in zones 6. despite this common occurrence, it still grows to large diameters. New canes will emerge each Spring to replace any damaged ones that might occur during Winter times. It also handles salt spray well and is being grown along coastal areas throughout the U.S.
Vivax has thin walls, which makes it easy to split for working with crafts. It can easily be recognized from a distance by its elegant drooping foliage.
Shoots begin to emerge early mid-season and have been found free from any unpleasant taste, even in the uncooked state.
Plant introduction number (PI) into the U.S. 82047
How Bamboo Grows
Bamboo grows a little different than most plants. The bamboo that you get initially never grows vertically again. It has babies that are taller, that has babies that are taller. Every generation should be taller that the previous year's shoots. The intriguing aspect is that each year’s growth emerges and grows to it complete height in 60-90 days. They spread as they produce larger growth, filling in and providing a screen.
This link will help you learn how bamboo grows. It will give you an idea of what kind of growth to expect from your planting. It is a lot of information, but well worth your time. How Bamboo Grows
Planting Instructions
Planting bamboo is also easy. You want to dig a hole about twice the size of the root ball. When you plant the bamboo amend your soil with composted manure and a good top soil. Bamboo can be planted at ground level or slightly deeper. It is not a picky about it conditions but this will help get it off to a good start.
More details can be found on our Planting Instruction Page
Spacing between plants
One division of bamboo will start a grove or screen over time. However, if you want a privacy screen fast, we recommend planting bamboo 3 to 5 feet apart. This will hopefully allow you to have a good screen in three years. There are a lot of factors such as water, sunlight, and climate zones that speeds up or slows down the process. Three years is about the average on this spacing, closer planting will allow you to screen or develop your grove faster. You cannot over plant bamboo.
Maintenance
Fertilizing
Bamboo can benefit from a fertilization program. You can safely fertilize your bamboo once it has been in the ground for one month. A time release fertilizer will work great. Time release fertilizers allow for proper absorption in case your soil is out of PH balance. We offer some fertilizer to help with growth. We fertilize twice a year. Once in the early spring to encourage new growth and then again during the middle of the grow season to replace any nutrients that are being depleted. Click here to see our recommended fertilizer: Our Fertilizers
Control
Over the years a lot of myths have been told about bamboo, while it can spread under good conditions, it is not as invasive as many people would have you believe. In colder climates an aggressive runner here in the south will hardy spread at all in comparison. We have been growing bamboo since 1985 and had experience with it long before that. The bamboo's underground root system (rhizome) will spread beyond the initial planting over the years, so in the next two or three years you will need to decide on some method of containment on the sides you do not want the rhizomes to run over into.
We have constructed a page discussing multiple methods of controlling bamboo. It goes over root pruning, mowing new shoots, and in ground barriers: Controlling Bamboo
All this said and it may discourage you, but as with any plant there will be maintenance. Bamboo is very beautiful and is great in a Japanese style garden, but it will need maintenance down the road. At first it may seem to be doing nothing, but after 3 to 5 years you will have a lot of beautiful culms (canes) and love the foliage. All our 150 plus species simply contained by mowing and weed eating the new Spring and Summer shoots. Hopes this helps and don't be afraid of the bamboo.