Life Span
Perennial
  
Annual and Perennial
  
Type
Grass
  
Grass
  
Origin
Eastern Asia, Australia
  
China
  
Types
Not Available
  
Timor Black Bamboo, Javanese Black Bamboo, Black Asper Bamboo
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
Grassland, open forests, wastelands, Wet lands
  
Not marine, Terrícola
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-9
  
6-10
  
AHS Heat Zone
9 - 5
  
12 - 4
  
Sunset Zone
3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
H1, H2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Clump-Forming
  
Thicket/Colonizing
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Ivory, Rose, Tan
  
Not Available
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Sandy Brown, Tan
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
  
Lime Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
  
Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Light Green, Tan
  
Lime Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Tan, Sandy Brown
  
Gray Green, Dark Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Conduplicate
  
Long Linear
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Very Fast
  
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Average
  
Bloom Time
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall, Late Fall
  
Not Available
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
No
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Not Available
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
  
Container, Ground
  
How to Plant?
Divison, Seedlings
  
Grafting, Seedlings, Stem Planting
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
occasional watering once established
  
Average Water Needs, Water Deeply, Water occasionally
  
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, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Average
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Cut or pinch the stems, Pinch Tips, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Remove deadheads
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Nitrogen, Phosphorous
  
Pests and Diseases
eyespot, Leaf spot, Rust
  
Red blotch
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Showy
  
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
No
  
Yes
  
Foliage Texture
Fine
  
Fine
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
Sometimes
  
Yes
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
No
  
Attracts
songbirds
  
Mites
  
Allergy
Pollen
  
Dermatitis, Rash
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Borders, Ground Cover
  
Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Insignificant
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Not Available
  
Antiemetic, Antitussive, Astringent, Depurative, Diuretic, Expectorant, Febrifuge, Sedative, Styptic
  
Part of Plant Used
Seeds
  
Stem
  
Other Uses
Used like flour
  
Basketary, Showy Purposes, Used for woodware, Used in Furniture
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
Yes
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Dried Flower / Everlasting, Bedding Plant, Container, Cutflower, Feature Plant, Foundation, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall
  
Container, Feature Plant, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
  
Botanical Name
PENNISETUM alopecuroides
  
PHYLLOSTACHYS nigra
  
Common Name
Chinese Fountaingrass, Fountaingrass
  
Black Bamboo, Running Bamboo
  
In Hindi
Fountaingrass
  
काला बांस
  
In German
Fountaingrass
  
schwarzer Bambus
  
In French
Fountaingrass
  
bambou noir
  
In Spanish
Fountaingrass
  
negro de bambú
  
In Greek
Fountaingrass
  
μαύρο μπαμπού
  
In Portuguese
Fountaingrass
  
Black Bamboo
  
In Polish
Fountaingrass
  
Czarny Bambus
  
In Latin
Fountaingrass
  
niger Bamboo
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Liliopsida
  
Liliopsida
  
Order
Cyperales
  
Cyperales
  
Family
Poaceae
  
Poaceae
  
Genus
Pennisetum
  
Phyllostachys Siebold & Zucc
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Tribe
Paniceae
  
Bambuseae
  
Subfamily
Panicoideae
  
Bambusoideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available