Hibanobambusa tranquillans Shiroshima

The Hibanobambusa tranquillans Shiroshima is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful small variegated foliage bamboos, its long light green leaves strongly striped with white cream are as bright as they are luminous throughout the year. Of modest stature, upright but bushy and very dense, this bamboo combines the qualities of its two parents, combining the beautiful foliage of the Sasa with the thicker culms of the Phyllostachys. Resistant to cold, tolerant to drought and indifferent to exposure, it is easy to grow in all areas. 'Shiroshima' allows you to create a beautiful and effective windbreak hedge and is also suitable for planting as a solitary plant in a small garden. However, its spreading character requires the installation of a rhizome barrier.

The Hibanobambusa tranquillans, sometimes called Hibano Bamboo, is a plant of the poaceae family, a type of grass with woody stems that develops from a trailing rhizomatous stump. In this type of bamboo, the rhizomes develop at the periphery of the stump, which rapidly expands to cover the area over vast spaces. The Hibanobambusa tranquillans is probably the result of a spontaneous crossbreeding that took place in Japan. This hybrid bamboo is one of the most robust, it can withstand temperatures of around -18 to -20°C and is not very demanding in terms of soil or exposure.

The Shiroshima cultivar, introduced in Europe in the 1970s, was selected for its variegated foliage and more compact growth. The plant has an upright and bushy habit. Its growth is quite fast, developing solid and straight culms, also known as culms, from its rhizomes. They measure about 1 to 2 cm (0.4 to 0.8 in) in diameter, and can reach 2 to 3 m (6 ft 7 in to 9 ft 10 in) in height depending on the growing conditions, a potted plant will grow less than one planted in the ground. The culms are smooth and green in colour, sometimes slightly striped with white cream. The sheaths that cover the young stems are brown and deciduous. The foliage is abundant and evergreen: it remains bright even when the winter is cold and dry. In this bamboo, the leaves are twice as long and wide on the current year's culms as on the previous year's culms. The variegated leaves are tapered at their tips, measuring 15 to 20 cm (5.9 to 7.9 in) in length and 4 to 5 cm (1.6 to 2 in) in width, slightly trailing. Particularly variegated in winter, they are adorned with a pink border in spring.

A star of Asian-inspired gardens, bamboo suits many styles, from contemporary to exotic, including natural gardens, Zen gardens, or water gardens. When planted en masse, Hibano Bamboo quickly creates a very dense screen or a charming small forest, its density brings lushness to any setting. The obscuring power of its foliage and its rapid growth make it an excellent candidate for hiding an unsightly view or creating an effective windbreak. Its presence is such that you can plant it as a solitary specimen, leaving enough space for it to express its generosity. However, its spreading character requires maintaining a certain distance from neighbouring plants that it tends to overwhelm. The cultivation of Hibanobambusa Shirishima is possible in pots but not recommended in the long term, again due to its spreading nature.