Phyllostachys aurea Holochrysa - Fishpole Bamboo

Phyllostachys aurea 'Holochrysa' is the true golden bamboo, with canes that are a brilliant gold colour. Its young shoots are green, but they gradually turn yellow regardless of the exposure the plant receives. It is a moderately spreading variety of medium size, which its robustness and adaptability have led to being found in almost every garden in the world. Its sturdy canes take on a beautiful orange hue with age, and carry a dense foliage that forms a vibrant green "hair" throughout the year. Very resistant to cold, truly undemanding, it can be both highly ornamental and effective as a screen. Excellent as an evergreen hedge or in the back of a border, it also adapts perfectly to container or pot cultivation.                                                      

Originating from China and Japan, Phyllostachys aurea belongs to the Poaceae family. Introduced in the 1980s, the 'Holochrysa' form, sometimes called Phyllostachys bambusoides 'All gold', was selected for its strongly yellow-coloured stems. It is a bamboo that forms dense clumps, composed of numerous closely spaced stems. It has surface-running and spreading rhizomes, capable of colonizing large areas over time. The plant produces straight and resistant canes that can reach a diameter of 5cm (2in) and a height of 6 to 10m (20 to 33ft) in our climates. Some of these culms are characterized by stacked and compressed nodes at the base. These internodal swellings are called "turtle scales". The colour of the canes evolves from bright green to golden yellow, and then to orange with age. The evergreen leaves, light and vibrant green, are narrow and lanceolate, 17cm (7in) long, and are densely clustered along the canes.

Phyllostachys aurea 'Holochrysa' is often planted as a standalone clump, in clusters or as an informal hedge. In a contemporary style garden, it pairs well with certain palm trees and tall ornamental grasses such as Pennisetums, Deschampsias, or Miscanthus. Its young shoots are edible, and its canes, which have a strength comparable to steel, are often used as stakes or for the construction of pergolas and fences. It also adapts very well to cultivation in large containers, on the terrace.

Tip: Limit the spread of the spreading rhizomes of this bamboo by installing "anti-rhizome barriers" made of resin panels vertically in the ground from the time of planting.