Simon bamboo (Pleioblastus simonii)
Other names Simon's Bamboo
At a glance
- Exposure
- Full sun
- Frost limit
- −23.3 °C
Cultivation
A very easily grown bamboo, it succeeds in most soils but prefers a good loamy soil in sun or semi-shade. A very hardy plant, it can tolerate temperatures down to between -20 and -25°c. The rootstock is running and very invasive. The canes are harvested commercially for their many uses in Japan. This species is notably resistant to honey fungus. Unlike many bamboos, this plant quite often flowers and sets viable seed, the plants do not usually die as a result of this.
Propagation
Seed - if possible, surface sow the seed as soon as it is ripe in a greenhouse at about 20°c. Stored seed should be sown as soon as it is received. Do not allow the compost to dry out. Germination usually takes place fairly quickly so long as the seed is of good quality, though it can take 3 - 6 months. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a lightly shaded place in the greenhouse or cold frame until they are large enough to plant out, which could be a number of years. The plants only flower at intervals of several years and so seed is rarely available. Division in spring as new growth commences. Very easy, single canes can be used. Pot them up in light shade in a greenhouse. Make sure the foliage is not allowed to dry out - misting 2 - 3 times a day for the first couple of weeks following divsion can be very helpful. Plant out in the summer once they are growing away strongly.
Edible uses
Young shoots - cooked. They have a very bitter flavour, this bitterness is considerably reduced by changing the water at least once during the cooking process - though this will also remove quite a few of the nutrients[K]. The new shoots are about 20mm in diameter[K].
Material uses
Canes are thin walled but extremely strong, they can be used as plant supports, also for fencing etc. Tolerant of maritime exposure and very hardy and vigorous, this plant makes a good screen or hedge.
Habitat
Not known
Native range
E. Asia - China, Japan. Locally naturalized in Britain.