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Dendrocalamus
strictus, the Male Bamboo, is native to India. It reaches
from 8 to 16 meters high with a diameter of 8 cm. In
cooler zones it will be shorter and can be grown in
container. The stems have many uses. Bamboos are
cultivated for fast growing erosion control, privacy
screens, and wind breaks, and the bamboo can be trimmed
to the desired height.
The Male bamboo is pale blue when young and becomes
greenish grey or yellow as it ages. The top half of the
stems tends to curve. It is in leaf all year. The leaves
of the Male bamboo are up to 25 cm long and 3 cm wide
with a pointy tip. There is soft hair underneath them.
The inflorescence has nothing particular, it consists of
a large panicle of greenish white flowers. Each bamboo
stem has the same diameter from top to bottom. The young
shoots are very fast growing, up to 30cm per day.
Hardiness zones 9-10, (-5ºC/25ºF, 1ºC/35ºF) in winter.
Under -3ºC, the plant dies. Dendrocalamus strictus grows
in regions where annual rainfall is between 750 and 4000
mm. It resists to frost and drought, but prefers regions
with low humidity and well drained soil.
Bamboos are not particular when
it comes to soil type. A neutral soil mixed with sand is
better. Most importantly, the soil must be well-drained
and rich, because Dendrocalamus strictus doesn’t
grow in waterlogged soil. Bamboos can also tolerate full
sun or partial shade. They have average water needs. Keep
the soil moist.
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