Life Span
Annual and Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Grass
  
Broadleaf Evergreen, Grass
  
Origin
China
  
Mexico
  
Types
Timor Black Bamboo, Javanese Black Bamboo, Black Asper Bamboo
  
Otatea acuminata ssp. acuminata, Otatea acuminata ssp. aztecorum, Otatea acuminata 'Dwarf'
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
Not marine, Terrícola
  
Subtropical climates, tropical environments
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
6-10
  
9-12
  
AHS Heat Zone
12 - 4
  
10 - 7
  
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
H1, H2, 9, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Thicket/Colonizing
  
Weeping
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Not Available
  
Non Flowering Plant
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Not Available
  
Non Fruiting Plant
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Lime Green
  
Green, Yellow green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
  
Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Lime Green, Dark Green
  
Green, Yellow green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Gray Green, Dark Green
  
Green, Yellow green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Long Linear
  
Long linear and narrow
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
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
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Average
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
No
  
Tolerances
Not Available
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
  
Container, Ground
  
How to Plant?
Grafting, Seedlings, Stem Planting
  
Divison
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Water Deeply, Water occasionally
  
Average Water Needs, Never Over-water
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Clay, 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 every year, Prune to control growth, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
  
Fertilizers
Nitrogen, Phosphorous
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Requires high amount of nitrogen
  
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
  
Aphids, Mealybugs
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought
  
Flowers
None
  
None
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
Yes
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Fine
  
Fine
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
Yes
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
No
  
Attracts
Mites
  
Mealybugs
  
Allergy
Dermatitis, Rash
  
Skin irritation
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
  
Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
No Beauty Benefits
  
Edible Uses
Insignificant
  
No
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification, Windbreak
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Antiemetic, Antitussive, Astringent, Depurative, Diuretic, Expectorant, Febrifuge, Sedative, Styptic
  
No Medicinal Use
  
Part of Plant Used
Stem
  
Whole plant
  
Other Uses
Basketary, Showy Purposes, Used for woodware, Used in Furniture
  
Used as Ornamental plant
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
  
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Tropical
  
Botanical Name
PHYLLOSTACHYS nigra
  
OTATEA acuminata
  
Common Name
Black Bamboo, Running Bamboo
  
Clumping Bamboo, Mexican Weeping Bamboo
  
In Hindi
काला बांस
  
मैक्सिकन बांस
  
In German
schwarzer Bambus
  
Mexican Bambus
  
In French
bambou noir
  
Bamboo mexicaine
  
In Spanish
negro de bambú
  
bambú mexicana
  
In Greek
μαύρο μπαμπού
  
Μεξικού μπαμπού
  
In Portuguese
Black Bamboo
  
Bamboo Mexican
  
In Polish
Czarny Bambus
  
Mexican Bamboo
  
In Latin
niger Bamboo
  
Mexicanus Bamboo
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Not Available
  
Class
Liliopsida
  
Not Available
  
Order
Cyperales
  
Poales
  
Family
Poaceae
  
Poaceae
  
Genus
Phyllostachys Siebold & Zucc
  
Otatea
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Tribe
Bambuseae
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Bambusoideae
  
Not Available
  
Number of Species
Not Available