Yushania anceps

Cultivation Details

Yushania anceps is found at elevations up to 3,000 metres in the Himalayas, where it experiences frost and snow. Reports on hardiness vary, some saying it cannot tolerate much frost, others that it can tolerate occasional short-lived temperatures falling as low as -20°c. It often loses its leaves in severe winters in southern Britain, though usually recovers^[1]. It is unlikely to withstand prolonged periods of cold weather. Prefers an open loam of fair quality^[2] and a position sheltered from cold drying winds^[1]. Succeeds on peaty soils. Requires abundant moisture and plenty of organic matter in the soil^{[3, 1]}. Grows well in light woodland^[4]. New shoots are produced from late spring^[5]. The rhizome is running and can be invasive^{[1, 5, 4]}. It is fairly easy to control, however, because the new shoots are brittle and easily broken off of the plant. In a well-managed stand of the plant, yields of around 14 tonnes per hectare per year of canes can be obtained^[6]. This species is notably resistant to honey fungus^[2]. Bamboos have an interesting method of growth. Each plant produces a number of new stems annually – usually in the spring and early summer, and these stems grow to their maximum height in their first two to three months. Any subsequent growth in the stem is limited to the production of new side branches and leaves. Temperate bamboo species usually grow for many years without flowering. When they do finally flower it is not unusual for all the plants of that species in the region to also flower. They do so profusely over a period of 1 - 3 years and will often then die, probably from exhaustion. Some species, if given plenty of organic matter at this time will gradually recover, although they will look rather poorly for a year or three. If fed with artificial NPK fertilizers at this time the plants are more likely to die^[4]. This species often flowers in Britain, sometimes continuously over a number of years. Although individual stems may die, the plant is not monocarpic and often produces viable seed^[4]. Plants can be badly weakened by flowering but they usually recover, however they are likely to be killed if they are given artificial NPK fertilizers at this time^[4].