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Chusquea culeou

Also Known As

Chusquea culeo
Chilean Feather Clumping Bamboo
Clumping Bamboo

Plant type

bamboo

size

H: 8'-20'
W: 6'-15'

planting zones

7b-9b

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Chusquea culeou plant details

Chusquea culeou is a fast-growing evergreen bamboo with green foliage. Features grassy texture. Grows well with sun - mostly shade and regular - low water. Drought tolerant once established. Does well in average and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something verticillium wilt resistant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Chusquea culeou

Plant type: bamboo
Plant family: poaceae
Foliage: evergreen green
Mature size: 6 FT - 15 FT - wide, 8 FT - 20 FT - tall
Uses: cascading, clumping, year round interest

GROWING CONDITIONS for Chusquea culeou

USDA Zones: 7b - 9b
Sun exposure: sun - mostly shade
Watering frequency: regular - low
Resistant to: verticillium wilt
Soil needs: average and well-drained

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

A Latin American bamboo, Chusquea culeou is a large clumping bamboo with solid canes and a dense branching habit. Most of the commonly grown bamboo species will produce two branches at each node, while this species will sport dozens or even hundreds of branches per node. Because of this, the dark green leaves are incredibly dense and this makes Chusquea culeou one of the best plants for a hedge.

This species also tolerates more sun than most other clumping bamboos, particularly more so than the more common Fargesia bamboos which normally need a half day of shade. Although Chusquea culeou prefers partial shade here in the Rogue Valley where summer temperatures are commonly above 100 degrees, it can still be grown in full sun when watered and fertilized well and given a thick layer of mulch. However, it is still not heat tolerant enough to plant on the south side of a building which reflects the heat. Mainly, we have found that this plant has a bigger issue with warm roots, so keeping the ground cool is the most important aspect to success. We also recommend planting these bamboo plants in the ground as soon as possible after receiving them.

It appears that C. culeou does not grow well when the roots remain wet during the winter, so sand should be added below the plant when it is being put in the ground.

Especially when mulched and fertilized regularly, C. culeou grows extremely fast and quickly forms a hedge or small grove. Usually, plants are upright at the base and fan out at the top. C. culeou has an extremely variable habit; depending on the location of the plant, it can either be upright or weeping. Plants will generally reach a height of twenty feet but under ideal conditions can grow even higher.

Chusquea culeou is most useful for the cut canes. Unlike most Asian species, C. culeou has solid 1.5 inch thick culms, adding strength without limiting flexibility. Chusquea culeou also produces more canes than a running bamboo in the same space, making it a great choice for cane production.

By: Red Panda Nursery

Upright grower with culms gently weeping at top. Hardy to about 0. Culms up to 1.5" when mature.

By: Lael's Moon Garden

Upright, solid-caned, well mannered, clumping bamboo with "bottlebrush” branch arrangement. To 8-10' tall. New shoots are a breathtaking red, pink and green fading to white. For sun and summer water. Frost hardy to 0 °F, USDA zone 7. From Chile, there are ideal as specimen plants or statements in a South American design.

By: Cistus Nursery

This vigorous and sturdy ornamental often looks small and innocent in pots, showing no indication of its potential grandeur. Once planted out, however, it grows with astounding speed into a large clump of leafy green culms to 20' tall or more and up to 1” diameter. The culms often take on a burgundy-wine color on some specimens—in fact, most of my seedlings appear to show this trait. Strictly a clump-forming plant, it is guaranteed not to invade where it isn't wanted - give it some room, though, as an individual clump may exceed 6' in diameter if it is growing well! One Northwest wholesaler has been sending these plants all over the place with the misspelling “Chusquea culeo”—let's just hope they don't get a lawsuit threat from Coolio along with Weird Al Yankovic for his song 'Amish Paradise.' What? Anyway, it's hardy to around 0-5 °F, but risky in climates with hot, humid summers. Chile.