Bamboos in the snow

This summer we planted several bamboos at my in-laws’ place in Mount Shasta in the mountains of Northern California (zone 7b): golden vivax (Phyllostachys vivax ‘Aureocaulis’), stone bamboo (Phyllostachys angusta), yellow groove bamboo (Phyllostachys aureosulcata), Fargesia dracocephala ‘Rufa’, Fargesia denudata and Chusquea gigantea. We also put a container-grown black bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra) in the ground.

We’re back in Mount Shasta for Thanksgiving and I just took some pictures of the bamboos. Quite a difference, to say the least. Some of them I couldn’t even find!

11/27/10 update: It snowed all night and most of the morning. Everything looks magical when covered with new snow, especially bamboos, so I’m adding new photos from this morning.

100708_stone_bamboo
Stone bamboo (Phyllostachys angusta) in July 2010 right after we planted it…
 
101127_Ph_angusta05
101127_Ph_angusta01
101127_Ph_angusta14
…and now in the snow
 
100708_golden_vivax
Golden vivax (Phyllostachys vivax ‘Aureocaulis’) in July 2010…
 
101127_Ph_vivax_aureocaulis05
101127_Ph_vivax_aureocaulis07
…and now in the snow
 
101125_chusquea_gigantea_under_snow
101127_Chusquea_gigantea01
Chusquea gigantea, barely visible in the foreground
 
101125_ph_aureosulcata_under_snow101127_Ph_aureosulcata02
Yellow groove bamboo (Phyllostachys aureosulcata) in the snow. Since this was was quite small, just 4 ft. tall, it didn’t get bent over by the snow like the others.
 
101125_fargesia_rufa_under_snow
Peek-a-boo! A Fargesia dracocephala ‘Rufa’ is hidden under the mound in the foreground.
 
101009_phyllo_nigra_inground[3]
Black bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra) in early October…
 
101125_black_bamboo_in_snow
…and now, flattened by the snow and almost invisible
 

All of this is business as usual for those of you who live in areas that regularly get snow, but for us fair-weather people, it’s startling to see how plants 4,6 or even 8 ft. tall can virtually disappear under the weight of the snow.

Comments

  1. Ellada, yes, they will be. All of the bamboos we planted at my in-laws' house are hardy to at least 0°F (-18°C). It's just bizarre to see them buried under the snow, but the snow actually provides insulation against the cold air.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I found your post after researching about bamboo and snow. I will be planting bamboo in michigan where the snowfall is excessive. Which is better for bamboo, the cold or the snow? I'm looking for a property to purchase and can't decide. Any comment would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

      Delete
    2. I found your post after researching about bamboo and snow. I will be planting bamboo in michigan where the snowfall is excessive. Which is better for bamboo, the cold or the snow? I'm looking for a property to purchase and can't decide. Any comment would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

      Delete
    3. The cold is much worse than the snow because the snow provides insulation.

      You should check out It's Not Work, It's Gardening: http://www.itsnotworkitsgardening.com/. Alan lives in St Louis and has many cold-hardy bamboos in his garden. He writes extensively about their performance in the winter.

      Delete

Post a Comment