Bamboo cane can be used to make decorative gazebos, fences, and furniture. The attractive plant can be found in gardens more and more often. When does bamboo bloom? Does the plant really die after flowering?
In a nutshell
- The cause of the bamboo blossom is not known to this day
- Plant flowers at intervals of 60 to 120 years
- Flowering requires a lot of energy
- some species die off immediately after flowering
bamboo
Bamboo belongs to the grass family (Poaceae). It is related to oats, wheat, corn and meadow grasses. With a height of about three meters, even small bamboos tower many times over the related grasses.
bamboo blossom
The bamboo blossom is an impressive phenomenon. First, dark red thickenings form on the side shoots. The flowers themselves are inconspicuous. They resemble the flowers of grasses.
bamboo blossom
In some bamboo varieties, after flowering, the entire plant dries up and dies:
- Process of dying takes up to three months
- Forming the flowers and seeds requires a lot of strength
- Plant exhausts itself completely
- Neither pruning nor additional nutrient supply help
The bloom at the same time
The bamboo flower attracts a lot of attention because the intervals between the flowers are extremely long and many plants of a variety develop their flowers at the same time.
Notice: Bamboo plants thrive best in the garden in a sunny, warm spot that is sheltered from the wind. The soil should be moist.
garden bamboo
Ernest H. Wilson, an English plant collector, discovered the Fargesia murielae bamboo species in 1907 while traveling through China. He cultivated them and brought them back to England. Today, the variety discovered by Wilson can be seen as a garden bamboo on many properties. Around five million specimens of the Fargesia murielae variety grow in Germany alone.
When a Fargesia plant flowers, many other specimens of this species also flower. This is a special spectacle! It's just a pity that these plants died three months later.
Umbrella Bamboo (Fargesia murielae)
features
- thin culms
- one to five meters high
- winterized
- forms no offshoots
- compact growth
- Flowering after 60 to 100 years
- Plant death after flowering
varieties for the garden
- Fargesia murielae (umbrella bamboo)
- F. nitida
- F. denudata
Notice: Spring is the best time to plant bamboo in the garden. This way the plant has enough time to settle in before winter sets in.
flat tube bamboo
In contrast to the garden bamboo, the flat-tube bamboo (Phyllostachys) has a higher chance of surviving when the bamboo blossoms. It forms flowers at shorter intervals and does not die off after flowering. However, it is spreading very rapidly. Without stable rhizome barriers, this variety can conquer your entire garden in a short time.
Golden cane bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea)
features
- tree-like tall plants
- good hardiness
- light green lanceolate leaves
- patterned straws
- Leaves turn red when exposed to sunlight
- strong spread and offshoot formation
- low seed formation
- does not die after flowering
sorts
- Phyllostachys aurea (Goldcane Bamboo)
- P. aureosulcata
- P. bissetii (bisset bamboo)
Notice: Did you know that bamboo is an important supplier of oxygen? The plant produces significantly more oxygen than an area of the same size with trees.
frequently asked Questions
Does the lucky bamboo, which is available as an ornamental plant, also die after flowering?The lucky bamboo offered in flower shops is not real bamboo. It belongs to the dragon tree family. Under optimal conditions, the plant forms white flowers.
Besides bamboo, are there other plants that die after flowering?The property is rare. Agaves are also among the plants that die after flowering.
When will the fargesia bloom next?The bamboos of the Fargesia murielae variety last flowered in 1990. The other varieties flowered between 1980 and 2000. The next Fargesia bloom can be expected in around 60 to 80 years. The reason for the simultaneity is the descent from a mother plant.