Black Bamboo

Black bamboo, *Phyllostachys nigra*, is an evergreen running bamboo whose young canes start green and darken to black or purplish brown as they mature. Its tall, arching culms and narrow green leaves create strong vertical texture, but the rhizomes need room and deliberate containment. ## Form and placement Mature size varies with climate and site. The University of Georgia Extension [lists a 30-foot maximum height](https://fieldreport.caes.uga.edu/publications/B1357/growing-bamboo-in-georgia/), while Kwantlen Polytechnic University [reports 7–10 metres tall by 5–7 metres wide](https://plantdatabase.kpu.ca/PlantPrint/phni); the Royal Horticultural Society [lists 2.5–4 metres for both dimensions](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/12869/phyllostachys-nigra/details). The RHS [recommends sun or partial shade and moist, well-drained loam](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/12869/phyllostachys-nigra/details). Its profile notes that the plant may stay more compact in poor or dry soil and can spread vigorously in favorable warm, moist sites. ## Growing conditions Choose a site with enough room for a running bamboo, and protect it from cold, drying winds. Keep soil evenly moist while allowing excess water to drain. The canes darken with age rather than emerging black, so the planting develops its characteristic color over time. ## Maintenance University of Georgia Extension recommends a properly installed root barrier to keep unwanted bamboo growth out of adjacent areas; follow its [running bamboo guidance](https://fieldreport.caes.uga.edu/publications/B1357/growing-bamboo-in-georgia/). Inspect the planting edge and barrier regularly, since vigorous rhizomes can travel beyond the intended screen. Thin weak, dead or crowded stems in spring to show the darker culms and maintain an open stand.