Giant Grey Bamboo 2 - Year Plant
Phyllostachys nigra 'Henon'(Giant Grey Bamboo)  * Full sun partial shade  * Zone 6-11  * 15'-30' tall One Henon Black bamboo plant.  Plants are about P. nigra 'Henon' is one of the largest bamboo available in the temperate climate. Easily capable of growing 30 feet tall, it averages 40 feet, and we have seen a very old grove in Vancouver, WA which has achieved 50 feet; a towering forest of giant grey culms.    Also noteworthy is the pale grey color of the old culms, inspiration for the nickname "Giant Grey Bamboo". The new shoots, first visible in April, have burgundy colored culm sheaths that are  covered with very fine, brown hairs (identical to Black Bamboo, 'Bory', and other cultivars of P. nigra).   The culm sheaths are shucked off by the unfolding branches, revealing light green culms. Over the seasons they gradually change to a pale greenish-grey. A venerable, five year old culm, is a uniform cloudy grey. There is always a subtle mixture of colors representing the old and the young.    P. nigra 'Henon' has exceptional hardiness. Evergreen in Zone 7 or warmer. In Zone 6 it may loose some of the foliage on top, and, baring a very cold winter, is probably root hardy to Zone 5.  In Zone 6 or lower, its ultimate height will probably be no greater than 25 feet. If a well established bamboo looses all of its culms in a severe winter, the root mass will grow back vigorously next spring to usually 3/4 of the original size. A 4 to 6 inch layer of mulch or compost applied to the root mass in the Fall will increase the growth put on next spring.  The added warmth, insulation, and nutrients, will help the bamboo to over winter, sustaining less damage.     The plants pictured represents what the mature plants will look like.  You will receive 2 foot tall fast growing transplants with green stems that turn grey as they mature.  Plants are shipped semi bare root to save on Priority Mail shipping fee.