Clumper or Runner: Runner

Height / diameter / Internode: 4 – 10 m / 3.5 cm / 25 – 30 cm

Color / Leaf length / Branch: Evergreen with tall, upright, polished black canes / 8 cm x 1.3 cm / 2 leafy branches at each node

Potted/Garden/Commercial:   Garden / Commercial

Minimum Temperatures / Climate: -20°C – -10°C but it does not like periods of prolonged cold / Does not tolerate wind

Water needed yearly / Altitude / soil / pH :  700 – 4 500 mm / 0 – 2 000 m / Fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soils / pH 6.0 – 7.0

Uses: Lumber (timber), food, and musical instruments, medicine.

Clumper or Runner: Runner

Height / diameter / Internode: 7.5 – 18 m / 20 cm / 35 – 50 cm

Color / Leaf length / Branch: Evergreen, huge, upright, very thick, grey-green canes. Small, pale green leaves. Deep green at first,mature to yellow-green, then almost orange-green. / 8-10 cm L 8-10 mm W/ 2 branches at the nodes with 1 slightly larger dominant branch.

Potted/Garden/Commercial:  Large Garden / Commercial

Minimum Temperatures / Climate: -20°C- -10°C / subtropical

Water needed yearly / Altitude / soil / pH :  800-1 800 mm /180 – 1 600 m / fertile, humus-rich, moist, well-drained soils. Chalk, Loam. Acid, Alkaline, Neutral / pH 5.5 – 6.5

Uses: Edible shoots, timber, fencing, furniture, construction material, paper pulp, plywood, flooring, musical instruments, utensils and rayon for the textile industry

Species: Gigantochloa atroviolacea / Java Black Bamboo / Tropical Black Bamboo

Clumper or Runner:  Clumper

Height / diameter / Internode: 10-15 m / 6-8 cm / 30 – 50 cm

Color / Leaf length / Branch: Very dark culms with thin green stripes / 20-28 cm / clustered branches at nodes+ 1 larger dominant branch

Potted/Garden/Commercial:  Large Garden / Commercial

Minimum Temperatures / Climate:  -2°C / Tropical or subtropical climates

Water needed yearly / Altitude / soil / pH :  1 500 – 3 700 mm / 0 – 1 500 m / Sandy Loam to Clay Loam / pH 5.5 – 7.0

Uses: Edible young shoots are consumed as a vegetable while the stems are used for making furniture and musical instruments.