Dwarf Buddha’s Belly Bamboo
Location
Bamboo Garden
- Common name: Dwarf Buddha’s Belly Bamboo
- Scientific name: Bambusa vulgaris ‘Wamin’
- Family name: Poaceae
- Origin: Indochinese Peninsula
- Height: 6-10 ft
- Width: 2-3 in (stems)
- Growth: Moderate
- Zone: 9-11
- Light needs: Full sun to Part shade
- Salt tolerance: Moderate
- Soil/pH/Texture: Prefers moist, well-drained, organically rich, loamy soil. Can live in a range of soil pH (pH 6.0-8.0)
- Moisture: Moderate water needs. Water regularly to ensure the soil is moist, but not flooded.
- Drought tolerance: Moderate – may defoliate in droughts
- Pests/Diseases: Aphids, cottony scales, and bamboo borers
- Growing conditions: Best grown in a sunny area with moist, loamy soil. It can be grown in shade, but the nodes won’t be as pronounced as the bamboo has to stretch towards the sun. It grows about 3-4 ft each year and reaches full height in 3 to 4 years.
- Characteristics: Bamboo with dark green, shiny culms. Internodes are 4-5 inches long and swollen at the base; lower internodes tend to be more swollen and have nodal roots. Branches are clustered. The leaves tend to be 5-12 inches long and 1 inch wide. Flowers are white and wind pollinated.
- Propagation: By rhizome cuttings or by division
- Facts: It is a good plant for erosion control. The stems are often used for light construction and crafts.
- Designer considerations: It is an excellent plant for mass plantings, adding height to the landscape. It is also good for walkways, as it provides ample shade.