Description:

Sasaella masamuneana ‘Albostriata’ is an attractive dwarf bamboo for a ground cover, container, or an individual planting.  The leaves emerge with a striking, cream/yellow variegation, turning mostly to a lush, dark green by the end of the growing season.  It will cover a large area if left to spread, but can be contained by rhizome pruning, and makes a great potted plant for a patio.  It can reach a height of about 6’ with culm diameter of .25”, but is more typically maintained to 3’ or less by pruning to the ground every other year.  It thrives in part to full shade, growing in rich, organic, slightly acid soils, with minimum summer irrigation, and is hardy to about 0 degrees F.

Planting History:

I purchased a gallon container of this bamboo from bambu-u in May 2001, and initially planted it out in full shade location to create a screen for a propane tank.  It steadily spread to fill an area 3’ x 10’ by summer 2004, attaining a height of about 4’. 

In fall 2004, I dug up and divided the entire planting into many, one gallon propagations which have nearly all succeeded.

As of 2005, plans are to continue to grow this strictly as a container plant. 

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