Life Span
Annual and Perennial
Perennial
Type
Grass
Succulent
Origin
China
Southern Africa
Types
Timor Black Bamboo, Javanese Black Bamboo, Black Asper Bamboo
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Number of Varieties
15030
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Not marine, Terrícola
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
6-1010-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12 - 4
10-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Thicket/Colonizing
Twisted/Contorted
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm250.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
460.00 cm121.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
-
Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
-
Green, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Lime Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Lime Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Gray Green, Dark Green
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Long Linear
Succulent
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Very Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
-
Late Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Grafting, Seedlings, Stem Planting
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Water Deeply, Water occasionally
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Ample Water
In Spring
Moderate
Less Watering
In Winter
Average Water
Less Watering
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Cut or pinch the stems, Pinch Tips, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Remove deadheads
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
Nitrogen, Phosphorous
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Pests and diseases free
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Flowers
-
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Fine
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Mites
Butterflies
Allergy
Dermatitis, Rash
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation, Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antiemetic, Antitussive, Astringent, Depurative, Diuretic, Expectorant, Febrifuge, Sedative, Styptic
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Part of Plant Used
Stem
Leaves, Stem
Other Uses
Basketary, Showy Purposes, Used for woodware, Used in Furniture
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
PHYLLOSTACHYS nigra
PORTULACARIA afra
Common Name
Black Bamboo, Running Bamboo
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
In Hindi
काला बांस
Elephant Bush
In German
schwarzer Bambus
Elephant Bush
In French
bambou noir
Elephant Bush
In Spanish
negro de bambú
elefante Bush
In Greek
μαύρο μπαμπού
ελέφαντας Μπους
In Portuguese
Black Bamboo
elefante de Bush
In Polish
Czarny Bambus
Elephant Bush
In Latin
niger Bamboo
bush elephant
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Embryophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Cyperales
Caryophyllales
Family
Poaceae
Portulacaceae
Genus
Phyllostachys Siebold & Zucc
Portulacaria
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
Bambuseae
-
Subfamily
Bambusoideae
Portulacarioideae
Number of Species
491
1
27800
👆🏻