[Alpine-l] Understory for bamboo
I am a dedicated bamboo-avoider, but I have a friend who loves it even though his garden is small, and he has several of the more delicate-appearing species there. He's asked me for suggestions for low flowering plants that could be grown along with it. I can't summon up any mental pictures of anything growing under or among bamboo. What does in nature? What could? Roscoea? Epimedium? Arisaema? Anemone? Bergenia? Please let me know if you've seen wild communities including bamboo or if you've actually got anything to grow among it. Thanks, Jane McGary Portland, Oregon ___ Alpine-l mailing list Alpine-l@science.uu.nl http://mailman.science.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/alpine-l
Re: [Alpine-l] Understory for bamboo
I don't recall anything in bamboo forests I've been in. Even dwarf bamboo seemed to obliterate the competition. The good thing about bamboo is that its roots are shallow so barriers don't have to be massive. Also, plants that are over-run can survive. When I had a backhoe in to remove my bamboo, an arisaema that had not emerged aboveground in twelve years came up and flowered. Diane Whitehead Victoria, British Columbia, Canada maritime zone 8, cool Mediterranean climate mild rainy winters, mild dry summers ___ Alpine-l mailing list Alpine-l@science.uu.nl http://mailman.science.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/alpine-l
Re: [Alpine-l] Understory for bamboo
I am a dedicated bamboo-avoider, Dear Jane and all. I am a dedicated bamboo lover - not easy in my climate, but I have two small groves of mostly Phyllostachys species and cvs. and isolated plantings of clumpers (Mostly Fargesia sp.) that all do fairly badly here. We groom our groves to have a natural bamboo carpet of fallen leaves, but I have seen many things growing under open bamboos- NOT clumping species. My best recall are Iris tectorum and Iris confusa if you have the right climate, but I suppose I japonica would do as well. Roscoea, but I do not recall which species- fairly large growing -18 inches or more tall. Various Asarum - again if you have the climate. At one time I had a bit of Meconopsis cambrica scattered in, other species may like the open spaces. I think Pollia japonica does OK too. Of your thoughts, only Epimedium might be suited although I have never seen them growing together in China. The problem in most gardens is trying to force bamboos into too small a space. I think a 20 ft x 20 ft patch would be minimal for a small grove with a path down the middle. Lots more plants enjoy the edges giving them exposure from a single side during the day. This can be a plus. Around the edges almost anything grows from Iris and peonies to hibiscus, Musa, vegetables, herbs, annuals and narcissus (coming up now). The gardener must be attentive to edges and boundaries. We mow and clip each spring and that covers most growth. BestJim W. -- Dr. James W. Waddick 8871 NW Brostrom Rd. Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711 USA Ph.816-746-1949 Zone 5 Record low -23F Summer 100F + ___ Alpine-l mailing list Alpine-l@science.uu.nl http://mailman.science.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/alpine-l
Re: [Alpine-l] Understory for bamboo
That was going to be my suggestion -- Asarum. Russell I have also heard that Asarum grow in bamboo stands, although I haven't tried it there myself. Russell Stafford Odyssey Bulbs PO Box 382 South Lancaster, MA 01561 508-335-8106 www.odysseybulbs.com ___ Alpine-l mailing list Alpine-l@science.uu.nl http://mailman.science.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/alpine-l
Re: [Alpine-l] Understory for bamboo
Hi Diane, I am surprised that you feel one doesn't need to put up much of a barrier. I bought a bamboo from a local widely known plantsman. I cannot remember the name except that it was viariegated and delicate. I planted it in a bottomless pot about a foot tall about twenty or more years ago, and it quickly traveled...expletive. We are still digging out sprouts here and there after trying to remove it about 17 years ago...smile. I adore bamboo, but will not plant it here. Beeg blizzard predicted in the northern plains and it is supposed to hit us here as well...sigh. A little fed up, but even more upset over the deer who are camping out all over the slopes here and broke through the netting fence. Of course, the first thing they attacked was an exquisite fastigiate chamacyparis. The bottom half is now five inches thick and the top a foot thick...sigh. I am thinking a permanent fence from my old age money. We shoot at the deer with what seems to be a very ineffective pellet gun. They keep coming back and while I feel sorry for them as I realize they are hungry. I am conflicted...smile. I have to think that our UK friends do not have a deer problem? Probably dear little hedgehogs and badgers? Best from currently frigid central NY State. I dream of galanthus in full blow carpeting the landscape in the UK as we never see it here. Best, Marcia Brown Meigs Ithaca, NY, USA Cheerio, Marcia In a message dated 2/20/2011 2:19:51 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, volta...@islandnet.com writes: I don't recall anything in bamboo forests I've been in. Even dwarf bamboo seemed to obliterate the competition. The good thing about bamboo is that its roots are shallow so barriers don't have to be massive. Also, plants that are over-run can survive. When I had a backhoe in to remove my bamboo, an arisaema that had not emerged aboveground in twelve years came up and flowered. Diane Whitehead Victoria, British Columbia, Canada maritime zone 8, cool Mediterranean climate mild rainy winters, mild dry summers ___ Alpine-l mailing list Alpine-l@science.uu.nl http://mailman.science.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/alpine-l ___ Alpine-l mailing list Alpine-l@science.uu.nl http://mailman.science.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/alpine-l
Re: [Alpine-l] Understory for bamboo
On 20-Feb-11, at 3:06 PM, arisae...@aol.com wrote: I am surprised that you feel one doesn't need to put up much of a barrier. Right. They'll move sideways sure enough - they'll go under a sidewalk and start growing on the other side. To control it, I used to use a pick to dig under the roots at the edge of the patch, then grabbed the edge of the mat, and pulled it up. We used to eat a lot of new shoots, too, and Chinese and Japanese friends would come over to harvest them as well. Heavy plastic will do fine for a barrier, and it should be about 60 cm deep - a couple of feet. This was fine for my Phyllostachys, which was almost two stories tall, but not enormous like timber bamboo. You'd probably need it deeper for that. Diane Whitehead Victoria, British Columbia, Canada cool mediterranean climate moderate dry summers, moderate rainy winters 68 cm rain (27 in) ___ Alpine-l mailing list Alpine-l@science.uu.nl http://mailman.science.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/alpine-l
