Pleioblastus shibuyanus Tsuboï - Dwarf Bamboo

Pleioblastus shibuyanus Tsuboi (also marketed under the names Pleioblastus argenteostriatus 'Tsuboi', Pleioblastus shibuyanus 'Tsuboii', Phyllostachys shibuyanus 'Tsuboi') is a dwarf bamboo with beautiful very bright, variegated foliage of green and white-cream. It is quite tall for a Pleioblastus, measuring 1.5m (5ft) to 2m (7ft) at maturity. Vigorous, erect, but dense, it has abundant foliage that is more striped with white in the sun, but its brightness is more enhanced in partial shade. This creeping variety can form superb ground covers or long low borders, the height of which can be controlled by pruning and expansion by adding a bamboo root barrier. In the ground or in pots, it allows for dense screens that catch the light. Evergreen and cold-resistant, it thrives in any good, preferably non-calcareous, moist garden soil.

Pleioblastus shibuyanus Tsuboi is an upright and bushy bamboo with moderate growth. Perfectly suited to harsh winters, it is a form with variegated foliage of a species native to Japan. Like all bamboos, it belongs to the grass family Poaceae. This bamboo has thin, hollow canes which are pale green in colour, with a diameter of 2 to 5 mm (1in).  It reaches up to 1.5m (5ft), or even 2m (7ft), in height. The plant spreads more or less slowly through its trailing rhizomes over a distance of about 3.5m (11ft) on the ground. The canes branch into slender, long, and upright branches, adorned with numerous medium-sized leaves. Its evergreen foliage is very dense. It consists of pubescent leaves on both sides, measuring 12 to 18 cm (5 to 7in) long and 2 to 4 cm (1 to 2in) wide. They are light green, more or less streaked with white-cream, a colour that is accentuated when the plant is exposed to the sun. This bamboo is well-suited for pruning, which further enhances its natural elegance.

Perfectly hardy and vigorous, this bamboo thrives in all situations, but prefers the sun as well as deep and moist soil. It works well in borders, as groundcovers, in partial shade, in a small hedge, or even in a pot on the patio or balcony. Its invasive nature requires the installation of bamboo root barriers to contain its growth. With a real elegance, it is perfectly suited for zen, Japanese, exotic, or contemporary gardens. It can be associated with other non-aggressive bamboos such as Fargesia (Fargesia denudata, Fargesia rufa, Fargesia murielae). It can also create a dense and luminous hedge, along a pathway in a large garden or planted in large containers on a balcony. This bamboo responds well to pruning and is well-suited to container gardening, provided that the older canes are regularly removed to make room for new shoots.