Sasaella masamuneana Albostriata

Sasaella masamuneana Albostriata is a bamboo that stands out, not for its modest stature, but because of its exceptionally bright, long leaves variegated with cream-white. With a lovely dense, vigorous habit, it thrives in almost any situation and withstands harsh winters. Show it off in front of a screen of tall bamboo. Whether in the ground or in pots, it is perfect for adding a beautiful touch of light to small gardens, terraces or balconies. 

Sasaella masamuneana Albostriata (synonym Arundinaria atropurpurea Albostriata) is a small, bushy bamboo with a regular, rounded habit, slightly trailing at the periphery. Its rhizome is of the running type (leptomorph), but it remains fairly easy to control. Perfectly adapted to harsh winters, it comes from a botanical species native to northern Japan and belongs to the poaceae or grass family. This bamboo establishes slowly, then its growth accelerates significantly. It has thin canes of brown or very dark green sometimes turning red or garnet, with a diameter of 2 to 5 mm (1in), flattened at the nodes. On these canes, the sheaths are evergreen and light beige. Hidden under the foliage, they rise up to an average of 1.75 m (6ft) from the ground (up to a maximum of 2.50 m (8ft)). Pruned every spring, this bamboo can be maintained at a height of 70 cm (28in). It spreads by means of its rhizomes over about 2 m (7ft) on the ground. The canes branch out into thin, short branches, adorned with numerous large leaves measuring 10 to 20 cm (4 to 8in) long. Its foliage is evergreen, but partially falls in winter. The leaves are light green and more or less streaked with cream-white to pale yellow along their entire length, depending on the exposure, soil type and watering. The Albostriata masamuneana Bamboo is perfectly suited for pruning, even very short: this operation is even recommended in spring to encourage the appearance of new, more variegated leaves.

Perfectly hardy and vigorous, this bamboo thrives in moist, even chalky or rocky soil, preferably in partial shade. It works well in a flowerbed, as a standalone clump, in a small hedge or even in a pot on the terrace or balcony. It can be useful to use anti-rhizome barriers to contain its growth. With true elegance, it is perfectly suited for Japanese, wild, exotic or contemporary gardens. It can be combined with other non-aggressive bamboos such as Fargesia (Fargesia denudata, Fargesia rufa, Fargesia murielae), Japanese maples in partial shade, dwarf conifers with blue foliage (Picea pungens Jeddeloh) or even quercifolia hydrangea for example. It can also form very bright small hedges, along a path in a large garden or to mark the boundary of a property. This bamboo responds very well to pruning, it will adapt to the requirements of each gardener. It is well suited for container cultivation, provided that the oldest canes are regularly removed to make room for new shoots that emerge from the ground in summer.