Beginner
skill rating
Online Garden Tools
Useful videos
Phyllostachys nigra (Black bamboo)
1 hour care
per year
per year
4m
Max height
Max height
4m
Max spread
Max spread
10-20 years
To maturity
To maturity
Plant details
Botanical name
Phyllostachys nigra
Other names
Black bamboo, Whangee cane, Kuro-chiku
Genus
Phyllostachys Phyllostachys
Species
P. nigra - P. nigra is a clump-forming, suckering, evergreen bamboo with glossy, black canes, green when young, and long, narrowly lance-shaped, green leaves.
Phyllostachys nigra is: Evergreen
Habit
Suckering, Arching
Awards
RHS AGM (Award of Garden Merit)
Foliage
Green in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Slugs Slugs
General care
Pruning
Remove dead or damaged stems and thin out to show off stems to best effect. Promptly remove any flowering shoots.
Propagation methods
Division
Sign up for your FREE ACCOUNT today or login to receive detailed monthly care instructions
Where to grow
Phyllostachys nigra (Black bamboo) will reach a height of 4m and a spread of 4m after 10-20 years.
Suggested uses
Hedging/Screens, Containers, Architectural
Cultivation
Plant in fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil in full sun or part shade. Protect from cold, drying winds. Alternatively, grow in a container in loam-based compost, feeding once a month in growth. Site carefully as may become invasive in favourable growing conditions.
Soil type
Loamy
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
South, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
Companion plants
We do not currently have companion plants added for this plant.
Botanical name
Phyllostachys nigra
Other names
Black bamboo, Whangee cane, Kuro-chiku
Genus
Phyllostachys Phyllostachys
Species
P. nigra - P. nigra is a clump-forming, suckering, evergreen bamboo with glossy, black canes, green when young, and long, narrowly lance-shaped, green leaves.
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Suckering, Arching
Awards
RHS AGM (Award of Garden Merit)
Create your free Shoot garden
Create your free SHOOT garden and make a record of the plants in your garden.
Add your own photos, notes, get monthly email reminders on how to care for your plants, and connect with other gardeners. Get started now.
Colour
Foliage
Green in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
General care
Pruning
Remove dead or damaged stems and thin out to show off stems to best effect. Promptly remove any flowering shoots.
Propagation methods
Division
Monthly care advice
Get access to monthly care advice
Create a free SHOOT account and get instant access to expert care advice for this and other plants in your garden.
You'll also receive handy monthly email reminders of what needs doing. Create your free account.
Where to grow
Phyllostachys nigra (Black bamboo) will reach a height of 4m and a spread of 4m after 10-20 years.
Suggested uses
Hedging/Screens, Containers, Architectural
Cultivation
Plant in fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil in full sun or part shade. Protect from cold, drying winds. Alternatively, grow in a container in loam-based compost, feeding once a month in growth. Site carefully as may become invasive in favourable growing conditions.
Soil type
Loamy
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
South, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
USDA zones
Zone 11, Zone 10, Zone 9, Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6, Zone 5
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
Phyllostachys nigra
June 2016
(17/10/2011)
planted 2009
for restricting the roots
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Loamy | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Moist but well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Partial Shade, Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | South, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Hardy (H4) | Tell us... |
GARDENS WITH THIS PLANT
ARTICLES WITH THIS PLANT
By London based garden designer Pippa Schofield. After building a new conservatory it became clear that the view out onto the garden needed improving. read more
Designed by Gillie Leaf Garden Design. A north-west facing garden with an awkward shape and slope to the rear boundary on a new development. The developers left the garden laid to lawn. The strong… read more
By garden designer Katrina Kieffer-Wells of Earth Designs. The garden is on two levels with the main area adjoining the house containing two separate areas for dining and for entertaining and… read more
By Berkshire garden designer Joanne Alderson Design. Keith & Kirsty bought this contemporary home with river frontage and wanted a garden to match. read more
Designed by Helen Elks-Smith MSGD. The garden now provides somewhere to sit in the sun for morning coffee, for lunch and to catch the last rays of summer. read more
Report content or feedback to Shoot
To add ? to your lists,
login to your account or subscribe.
Find out more about plant lists here
or Login
To add notes for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To add images for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To check if this plant is suitable for your garden first login to your account or subscribe.
or Login
DISCUSS THIS PLANT
When you have planted this variety of bamboo for a client do you always use the a bamboo root barrier to stop it spreading?
There are 9 active discussions about Phyllostachys nigra (Black bamboo)
View all discussions