Phyllostachys Species List
76 Species
Phyllostachys comes from phyllon, meaning leaf, and stachys, meaning spike. In China, where this bamboo grows native, it is also called Gangzhu Shu, meaning firm bamboo genus.
Click the magnifying glass in the frame below to search for pictures of specific Phyllostachys species.
Phyllostachys belongs to the tribe Bambuseae, and subtribe Shibataeinae. Culms usually have a tendency to zigzag from node to node and are distinguished by a pronounced groove in the culm above each branch-bearing node. Because of this groove (called sulcus) it is one of the most easily identifiable genera of bamboo. The branches open from top to bottom, generally in subequal pairs at each node, with a smaller branch between. In general, the culm sheaths fall off quickly.
Did You Know?
The Chinese Golden Bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea) was first introduced in Alabama, USA in 1882. That same year, Thomas Edison began his first light-bulb factory using carbonized bamboo filaments.
The Phyllostachys genus include many resistant species with excellent technical properties of importance to human economy. In China, this genus is the principal source of paper pulp, major source for construction and handicrafts, and an important source for edible shoots.
Phyllostachys is a temperate bamboo but also grows in semi-tropical climates, therefore it is widely cultivated around the world. Most of the species require full sun and spread aggressively (runners).
Native Distribution Map
Bamboo Biodiversity in the Asia-Pacific region
There are 76 species and approximately 140 varieties and cultivars of Phyllostachys. Most Phyllostachys species are frost resistant, and do not show severe damage at the min. temperature values indicated.
The list below shows all the known Phyllostachys species:
Species Name |
Min. Temp |
Diameter |
Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phyllostachys acuta | -13°C | 40-60 mm | 6-9 m |
| Phyllostachys altiligulata | 50 mm | 10 m | |
| Phyllostachys angusta | -15°C | 30-50 mm | 6-10 m |
| Phyllostachys arcana | -20°C | 20-40 mm | 7-8 m |
| Phyllostachys arcana 'Yellowstone' | -13°C | 40 mm | 5-8 m |
| Phyllostachys aristata | 20 mm | 3 m | |
| Phyllostachys atrovaginata | -15°C | 30-50 mm | 5-8 m |
| Phyllostachys aurea | |||
| Phyllostachys aurea 'Albovariegata' | -12°C | 40 mm | 8 m |
| Phyllostachys aurea 'Flavescens-inversa' | -10°C | 5-9 m | |
| Phyllostachys aurea 'Kansai' | -10°C | 30-45 mm | 5-9 m |
| Phyllostachys aurea 'Koi' | -10°C | ||
| Phyllostachys aurea f. aurea | -12°C | 30-70 mm | 6-12 m |
| Phyllostachys aurea f. takemurai | -10°C | 70 mm | 10 m |
| Phyllostachys aureosulcata | -18°C | 2-6 mm | 6-10 m |
| Phyllostachys aureosulcata 'Harbin' | |||
| Phyllostachys aureosulcata f. aureosulcata | |||
| Phyllostachys aureosulcata f. pekinensis | |||
| Phyllostachys aureosulcata f. spectabilis | -18°C | 10-50 mm | 5-8 m |
| Phyllostachys aureosulcata f. aureocaulis | -18°C | ||
| Phyllostachys aurita | 20-30 mm | 3-6 m | |
| Phyllostachys bambusoides | -18°C | 50-160 mm | 10-24 m |
| Phyllostachys bambusoides 'Albovariegata' | |||
| Phyllostachys bambusoides 'Kawadana' | |||
| Phyllostachys bambusoides 'Subvariegata' | -10°C | 40-60 mm | 4-10 m |
| Phyllostachys bambusoides 'Castilloni' | -10°C | 60-80 mm | 9-12 m |
| Phyllostachys bambusoides 'McClure's Castillon' | -10°C | 60-80 mm | 9-12 m |
| Phyilostachys bambusoides 'Castilloni-inversa' | -13°C | 10-12 m | |
| Phyllostachys bambusoides 'Holochrysa' | -10°C | 60-80 mm | 8-10 m |
| Phyllostachys bambusoides 'Kashirodake' | |||
| Phyllostachys bambusoides 'Violascens' | -15°C | 60-90 mm | 12-17 m |
| Phyllostachys bambusoides 'Katashibo' | |||
| Phyllostachys bambusoides 'Marliacea' | 50-70 mm | 7-8 m | |
| Phyllostachys bambusoides 'Tanakae' | 50-100 mm | 5-12 m | |
| Phyllostachys bambusoides 'Mix' | -15°C | 10-50 mm | 5-10 m |
| Phyllostachys bambusoides 'Geniculata' | 75 mm | 13-15 m | |
| Phyllostachys bambusoides 'White Crookstem' | |||
| Phyllostachys bambusoides f. shouzhu | -10°C | 70-130 mm | 10-20 m |
| Phyllostachys bambusoides f. lacrima-deae | |||
| Phyllostachys bambusoides f. nigrostriata | |||
| Phyllostachys bissetii | -15°C | 20-25 mm | 6-7 m |
| Phyllostachys breviligula | 20-25 mm | 4-5 m | |
| Phyllostachys cantoniensis | 3-5 mm | 1 m | |
| Phyllostachys camea | 14-15 mm | 2.5 m | |
| Phyllostachys chlorina | 15 mm | 3 m | |
| Phyllostachys circumpilis | -7°C | 30-45 mm | 5-7 m |
| Phyllostachys compressa | 17 mm | 2-4 m | |
| Phyilostachys concava | 20-50 mm | 5-7 m | |
| Phyllostachys decora | -15°C | 40-50 mm | 8-9 m |
| Phyllostachys dulcis | -13°C | 40-70 mm | 7-12 m |
| Phyllostachys edulis | -18°C | 100-180 mm | 12-24 m |
| Phyllostachys edulis 'Aureovariegata' | |||
| Phyllostachys edulis 'Moonbeam' | |||
| Phyllostachys edulis 'Okina' | |||
| Phyllostachys edulis 'Bicolor' | 15-20 m | ||
| Phyllostachys edulis 'Viridisulcata' | |||
| Phyllostachys edulis 'Tao Kiang' | |||
| Phyilostachys edulis 'Venusta' | 20-30 mm | 5 m | |
| Phyllostachys edulis 'Nabeshimana' | |||
| Phyllostachys edulis 'Hsiung's Grammica' | |||
| Phyllostachys edulis 'Lutea' | |||
| Phyilostachys edulis 'Gimmei' | |||
| Phyllostachys edulis 'Heterocycla' | 30-100 mm | 4-12 m | |
| Phyllostachys edulis 'Subconvexa | 30-60 mm | 4-12 m | |
| Phyllostachys edulis 'Buddha's Belly' | |||
| Phyllostachys edulis 'Dance Frock' | |||
| Phyllostachys edulis 'Tubaeformis' | |||
| Phyllostachys edulis 'Obtusangula' | |||
| Phyllostachys edulis 'Quadrangulata' | |||
| Phyllostachys edulis 'Gracilis' | 30-60 mm | 7-10 m | |
| Phyllostachys edulis 'Rigid' | |||
| Phyllostachys edulis 'Early Purple' | |||
| Phyllostachys edulis 'Oboro' | |||
| Phyllostachys edulis 'Anderson' | -21°C | 180 mm | 22.5 m |
| Phyllostachys edulis f. edulis | -15°C | 70-200 mm | 15-25 m |
| Phyllostachys edulis f. epruinosa | |||
| Phyllostachys elegans | -13°C | 55 mm | 8-10 m |
| Phyllostachys erecta | 20 mm | 4 m | |
| Phyllostachys fimbriligula | 50 mm | 9 m | |
| Phyllostachys flexuosa | -13°C | 20-40 mm | 4-7 m |
| Phyllostachys glabrata | -7°C | 30-40 mm | 6-7 m |
| Phyllostachys glauca | -18°C | 60-100 mm | 10-14 m |
| Phyllostachys glauca f. yunzhu | -15°C | 15-50 mm | 5-10 m |
| Phyllostachys glauca var. variabilis | |||
| Phyllostachys guizhouensis | 80 mm | 16 m | |
| Phyllostachys helva | 15-20 mm | 4 m | |
| Phyllostachys heteroclada | -11°C | 20-30 mm | 3-4 m |
| Phyllostachys heteroclada f. denigrata | |||
| Phyllostachys hispida | 10-20 mm | 2-3.5 m | |
| Phyllostachys humilis | -16°C |
15-30 mm |
2-5 m |
| Phyilostachys incarnata | -11°C | 30-40 mm | 4-6 m |
| Phyllostachys iridescens | -15°C | 60-100 mm | 8-12 m |
| Phyllostachys iridescens f. luteosulcata | |||
| Phyllostachys iridescens f. striata | |||
| Phyllostachys kwangsiensis | -15°C | 40-100 mm | 8-16 m |
| Phyllostachys lithophila | 40-120 mm | 3-12 m | |
| Phyllostachys Iofushanensis | 20-30 mm | 3-4.5 m | |
| Phyllostachys makinoi | 70-100 mm | 12-20 m | |
| Phyllostachys mannii | 40-60 mm | 9-12 m | |
| Phyllostachys meyeri | -11°C | 50-70 mm | 9-11 m |
| Phyllostachys meyeri f. sphaeroidea | |||
| Phyllostachys nidularia | -12°C | 30-50 mm | 8-10 m |
| Phyllostachys nidularia 'June Barbara' | 40 mm | 10 m | |
| Phyllostachys nidularia f. farcta | -10°C | 10-50 mm | 5-10 m |
| Phyllostachys nidularia f. glabrovagina | |||
| Phyllostachys nidularia f. vexillaris | |||
| Phyllostachys nidularia f.mirabilis | |||
| Phyllostachys nidularia f. speciosa | |||
| Phyllostachys nidularia f. sulfurea | |||
| Phyllostachys nigella | 30-50 mm | 5-8 m | |
| Phyllostachys nigra | 20-40 mm | 3-7 m | |
| Phyllostachys nigra 'Henonis Albovariegata' | |||
| Phyllostachys nigra 'Basinigra' | |||
| Phyllostachys nigra 'Boryana' | -15°C | 75-110 mm | 15-20 m |
| Phyllostachys nigra 'Tosaensis' | |||
| Phyllostachys nigra 'Flavescens' | |||
| Phyllostachys nigra 'Fulva' | 10-16 m | ||
| Phyllostachys nigra 'Hanchiku' | |||
| Phyllostachys nigra 'Megurochiku' | -15°C | 90 mm | 16-17 m |
| Phyllostachys nigra 'Okina' | |||
| Phyllostachys nigra 'Othello' | |||
| Phyllostachys nigra 'Shimadake' | 100 mm | 18 m | |
| Phyllostachys nigra 'Bicolor' | |||
| Phyllostachys nigra 'Sujidake' | |||
| Phyllostachys nigra 'Mejiro' | |||
| Phyllostachys nigra 'Pendula' | |||
| Phyllostachys nigra f. nigra | -15°C | 20-50 mm | 4-12 m |
| Phyllostachys nigra f. punctata | -15°C | 10-50 mm | 5-12 m |
| Phyllostachys nigra f.muchisasa | 50 mm | 12-13 m | |
| Phyllostachys nigra f. henonis | -13°C | 50-100 mm | 12-20 m |
| Phyllostachys nigra f. asagi | |||
| Phyllostachys nigra f. usuguro | |||
| Phyllostachys nigrivagina | 110 mm | 12 m | |
| Phyilostachys nuda | -13°C | 30-50 mm | 8-11 m |
| Phyllostachys nuda 'Ink-finger' | |||
| Phyllostachys nuda f. Iocalis | -13°C | 25 mm | 4-5 m |
| Phyllostachys nuda f. lucida | |||
| Phyllostachys parvifolia | -10°C | 50-80 mm | 8-12 m |
| Phyllostachys parvifolia f. lignosa | |||
| Phyllostachys pingyangensis | 80 mm | 16 m | |
| Phyllostachys platyglossa | -7°C | 30-50 mm | 7-9 m |
| Phyllostachys platyglossa f. leucodermis | |||
| Phyllostachys praecox | -12°C | 20-80 mm | 5-11 m |
| Phyllostachys praecox f. notata | |||
| Phyllostachys praecox f. viridisulcata | |||
| Phyllostachys praecox f. prevernalis | |||
| Phyllostachys primotina | 70 mm | 9 m | |
| Phyllostachys prominens | -7°C | 40-80 mm | 7-11 m |
| Phyllostachys propinqua | -18°C | 30-50 mm | 6-10 m |
| Phyllostachys propinqua f. lanuginosa | |||
| Phyllostachys purpurata | -12°C | 20-30 mm | 5-7 m |
| Phyllostachys purpurata 'Straightstem' | -12°C | 30-40 mm | 8-10 m |
| Phyllostachys purpurata 'Solidstem' | -21°C | 20 mm | 4-6 m |
| Phyllostachys purpurata 'Decurtata' | |||
| Phyllostachys purpureomaculata | 4-6 mm | 1-1.5 m | |
| Phyllostachys retusa | 30-40 mm | 6-8 m | |
| Phyllostachys rigida | 30 mm | 7-8 m | |
| Phyilostachys rivalis | 15-20 mm | 4 m | |
| Phyllostachys robustiramea | -14°C | 30-60 mm | 5-10 m |
| Phyllostachys rubicunda | -7°C | 27-45 mm | 3-6 m |
| Phyllostachys rubromarginata | -15°C | 20-70 mm | 5-16 m |
| Phyllostachys rubromarginata f. castigata | 20 mm | 6 m | |
| Phyllostachys rutila | 30-60 mm | 8-11 m | |
| Phyllostachys sapida | 12-30 mm | 4-7 m | |
| Phyllostachys sedan | |||
| Phyllostachys shuchengensis | 40-60 mm | 5-6 m | |
| Phyllostachys stimulosa | -13°C | 34 mm | 8 m |
| Phyllostachys stimulosa f. unifoliata | |||
| Phyllostachys subulata | 6-8 mm | 1-1.5 m | |
| Phyllostachys sulphurea | |||
| Phyllostachys sulphurea 'Mitis' | |||
| Phyllostachys sulphurea 'Robert Young' | -12°C | ||
| Phyllostachys sulphurea 'Houzeau' | -12°C | 50-75 mm | 9-14 m |
| Phyllostachys sulphurea 'Viridisulcata | |||
| Phyllostachys sulphurea f. sulphurea | -12°C | 30-50 mm | 7-10 m |
| Phyllostachys sulphurea f. tricolor | |||
| Phyllostachys sulphurea f. viridis | -15°C | 40-100 mm | 9-15 m |
| Phyllostachys sulphurea f. laqueata | |||
| Phyllostachys tianmuensis | -18°C | 30-40 mm | 7-8 m |
| Phyllostachys tianmuensis f. flexicaulis | |||
| Phyllostachys varioauriculata | 20-30 mm | 3-4 m | |
| Phyllostachys varioauriculata var. glabrata | |||
| Phyllostachys verrucosa | 12 mm | 3 m | |
| Phyllostachys villosa | 15 mm | 4 m | |
| Phyilostachys violascens | |||
| Phyllostachys violascens 'Source Bleue' | |||
| Phyllostachys virella | 50 mm | 6-9 m | |
| Phyllostachys viridiglaucescens | -13°C | 20-80 mm | 6-14 m |
| Phyllostachys viridiglaucescens 'Richelieu' | |||
| Phyllostachys vivax | -12°C | 40-130 mm | 10-21 m |
| Phyllostachys vivax 'Huangwenzhu' | -23°C | ||
| Phyllostachys vivax f. aureocaulis | 30 mm | 4-6 m | |
| Phyllostachys vivax f. vittata | |||
| Phyllostachys yunhoensis | -7°C | 30-40 mm | 5-7 m |
Recently Corrected Names:
Bamboo species tables are monitored and improved each year by a wide group of experts. Below you'll find the latest updates for the genus Phyllostachys:
The complete list can be found here: Recently Corrected Bamboo Names.
Old Name |
New Name |
|---|---|
| Phyllostachys cerata | Phyllostachys heteroclada |
| Phyllostachys congesta | Phyllostachys atrovaginata |
| Phyllostachys decora | Phyllostachys mannii 'Decora' |
| Phyllostachys heterocycla | Phyllostachys edulis 'Heterocycla' |
| Phyllostachys heterocycla pubescens | Phyllostachys edulis |
| Phyllostachys heterocycla pubescens 'Anderson' | Phyllostachys edulis 'Anderson' |
| Phyllostachys purpurata | Phyllostachys heteroclada 'Purpurata' |
| Phyllostachys purpurata 'Solidstem' | Phyllostachys heteroclada 'Solidstem' |
| Phyllostachys purpurata 'Straightstem' | Phyllostachys heteroclada |
Common Names:
Bamboo growers and garden books frequently refer to bamboos by their 'common names'. Below you'll find a table with the most common names for Phyllostachys and their correct scientific names.
More common names in English can be found here: Common Bamboo Names.
Common Name |
Botanical Name |
|---|---|
| Black Bamboo | Phyllostachys nigra |
| Golden Bamboo | Phyllostachys aurea |
| Golden Golden Bamboo | Phyllostachys aurea 'Holochrysa' |
| Japanese Timber Bamboo | Phyllostachys bambusoides |
| Madake Bamboo | Phyllostachys bambusoides |
| Moso Bamboo | Phyllostachys edulis |
| Stone Bamboo | Phyllostachys angusta & P. nuda |
| Sweetshoot Bamboo | Phyllostachys dulcis |
| Tortoise Shell Bamboo | Phyllostachys edulis 'Heterocycla' |
| Water Bamboo | Phyllostachys heteroclada |
| Yellow Groove Bamboo | Phyllostachys aureosulcata |
Subscribe to our Blog
About Me
I was introduced to the world of bamboo in 2006. Since then I dedicated all my time to experiment, research and write my findings online.
Thanks to you and SBI!, this became one of the most visited bamboo sites on the internet.
Until we meet in Costa Rica...
New! Comments
Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.