Description:

Pleioblastus fortunei makes a great ornamental ground cover or container plant for a shady area.  It can reach 4' in height, but is typically sheared to the ground every other year, maintaining it to a height of 1' - 2', and keeping the pinstriped foliage fresh.  This plant holds its variegation even in deep shade, and thrives in moist, well-drained, slightly acid soils.  Although somewhat slow to start, it spreads reasonably fast once established, and is cold hardy to about 5 degrees F.

Planting History:

I acquired a small field division of this plant while doing a maintenance demonstration at South Puget Sound Community College in fall 2002.  Planted on along a north facing wall, with summer irrigation it steadily spread over the 2003 growing season.

In March 2004, I dug up and divided the plant into many, 1 gallon propagations.  These produced some nice, leafy shoots and rooted out well over the 2004 growing season, growing in full shade.  As of 2005, I am growing it strictly as a container plant.

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