Photo of Chimonobambusa tumidissinoda foliage by Red Panda Nursery

Photo by Red Panda Nursery

Used with permission, all rights reserved

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Chimonobambusa tumidissinoda

Also Known As

  • Qiongzhuea tumidissinoda
  • Chinese Walking Stick
  • Square Stem Bamboo

Plant type

bamboo

size

  • H: 25'
  • W: 5'

planting zones

  • 8a-10b

Chimonobambusa tumidissinoda plant details

Chimonobambusa tumidissinoda is an evergreen bamboo with green foliage. Features grassy texture. Grows well with bright shade - shade and regular water. Does well in average and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something for erosion control, heat tolerant, humidity tolerant and verticillium wilt resistant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Chimonobambusa tumidissinoda

Plant type: bamboo
Plant family: poaceae
Foliage: evergreen green
Mature size: 5 FT wide, 25 FT tall
Uses: distinctive bark, hedge, tropical-looking, year-round-interest

GROWING CONDITIONS for Chimonobambusa tumidissinoda

USDA Zones: 8a - 10b
Sun exposure: bright shade - shade
Watering frequency: regular
Resistant to: deer, erosion, heat, humidity and verticillium wilt
Soil needs: average and well-drained

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

One of the earliest to shoot each season, Chimonobambusa tumidissinoda (syn. Qiongzhuea tumidissinoda) is known for its swollen nodes which are often twice the diameter of the rest of the cane. The species is a very fast spreader once established and seems to spread even in dense clay soils where other bamboo species struggle. When grown under dry conditions we've found plants tend to stay quite small, but when given regular watering they quickly grow skyward. The tips of new shoots bend before they even start to leaf out, and after the leaves emerge the canes arch towards the ground with the weight. Even though the culm walls are thick, the wood is soft and can't support much weight without bending over. Chimonobambusa tumidissinoda's arching habit is attractive when plants are given ample space to grow large, but smaller plants tend to look floppy. This is a very attractive plant when grown in containers.

Chimonobambusa tumidissinoda is reportedly damaged by temperatures around 10-15F, however we have had cold spells with low's around 10F and high's in the mid 30's several days in a row with no apparent damage. Our guess is that plants in containers are probably the most susceptible to the cold; many bamboo species that are otherwise hardy will die if their roots freeze. We've always kept our pottedtumidissinoda plants in a sheltered location amongst other plants just to be on the safe side.

'Chinese Walking Stick' gets its name because monks would use the mature canes to make walking canes. The location of several groves growing high up in Chinese mountains were kept secret by these monks, but the groves were eventually discovered. Chimonobambusa tumidissinoda has some of the best tasting new shoots and most of the secret groves were harvested to the point of annihilation after they were discovered.

Gardening facts about Chimonobambusa tumidissinoda plant

How to Grow Chimonobambusa tumidissinoda

  • Sun Exposure

    • bright shade - shade
  • Soil Needs

    • average
    • well-drained
  • Water Needs

    • regular
  • Special Situation

    • heat tolerant
    • humidity tolerant
    • erosion control
    • verticillium wilt resistant

Features

  • Texture

    • grassy
  • Foliage Season

    • evergreen
  • Foliage Color

    • green
  • Wildlife

    • deer resistant
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