Description:

Chusquea culeou is a beautiful clumping bamboo native to the mountains of Chile and Argentina, where it grows on the margins or in the under story of beech forests. This bamboo is quite variable in form depending on exposure and genetics, but generally, mature plants form a tight, columnar to vase-shaped clump.  The common name, Chilean Feather Bamboo is descriptive of its foliage-tufted culms.  It does best in full sun to part shade (will have a more open habit with shady exposure) is wind tolerant, cold hardy to about 0 degrees F., and grows to a height of about 20' with a diameter of about 1".  To thrive, it needs rich, organic, slightly acid soils with summer irrigation. The versatility and beauty of this bamboo make it an extraordinary ornamental specimen!

Planting History:

I purchased this plant from Jade Mountain Bamboo  in September 2002 and planted the same fall. It has been extremely fast to establish, growing in full sun with lots of summer irrigation, and mulched with a manure/peat moss mix.  This plant seems to respond well to applications of dolomite lime, which I add to correct calcium/ magnesium deficiencies (although nothing indicates that it requires less acid soils to do well).  The container plants I have purchased for resale have proved to be touchy about container culture, and need to be up-potted or divided as soon as the feeder roots contact the edge of the pot.