Chusquea culeou

The Chusquea culeou, or the Inca Bamboo, also known as the Chilean Bamboo, is rare in cultivation, which will delight plant collectors. Its unique appearance, with its curiously staggered growth, sets it apart from all others. This unusual architecture is due to the arrangement of its evergreen foliage. The leaves are tightly clustered at the nodes, along the entire height of its culms. It is a plant species that prefers moist soils and humid environments, thriving particularly well in coastal climates. Its moderate growth and compact habit make it perfect for small gardens, whether planted in a the ground or in containers on a terrace or balcony.

The Chusquea couleou (syn. Chusquea culeou) is a plant belonging to the family Poaceae, a type of grass with woody stems that grows from a rhizomatous stump, forming dense clumps. This botanical species is native to the wet areas of temperate forests in southern Chile and southeastern Argentina. Not as hardy as Fargesia or Phyllostachys, it is still considered a bamboo suitable for temperate climates, and its base is capable of withstanding short periods of frost down to around -15°C (5 °F). It is easy to grow in any moist to wet soil (slightly acidic, neutral or slightly alkaline), although it is relatively uncommon in cultivation.

This bamboo produces solid, tightly packed culms that do not arch much. They have a diameter of 2 to 3 cm (0.8 to 1.2 in) and grow in the spring, reaching a height of 3 to 4 m (9 ft 10 in to 13 ft 1 in), depending on the cultivation method: a potted plant will grow less than one planted in the ground. When young, the culms are blackish, but they turn green, passing through various shades of yellow and reddish-brown. The plant has a very distinctive habit: upright, tiered, slightly flaring at the top, with a dense bushy appearance formed by short branches that emerge from each node very close to the culm. Its evergreen foliage becomes partially deciduous below -10°C (14 °F). The leaves are long and slender, slightly fuzzy, and have a small spine at their tips. They have a beautiful medium green colour with a satin-like finish.

This bamboo creates scenes of great poetry, whether planted in the ground or in containers, especially near water features that provide a humid atmosphere. It is perfect for Zen, exotic, or contemporary gardens. Avoid planting it in direct scorching sunlight, dry soil, or windy locations. Showcase it along a path or in the centre of a flower bed. It integrates easily into the garden, pairing well with trees such as caramel tree, Japanese maple in all its forms, or dwarf conifers. In a more shrubby setting, it can be accompanied by sacred bamboo, spindle tree, or Loropetalum. It can also be combined with giant perennial plants such as Hosta Empress Wu, Gunnera manicata, Aralia, or Papyrus for a striking tropical scene. With its extremely exotic appearance, Chusquea culeou is the ideal bamboo to bring a truly exotic style to your terrace or balcony!