El black bamboo it is a very exotic version of the typical bamboo plant and is characterized by black color of their rods. It is native to China and widely used for ornamental purposes.
El bamboo is one of world's best-known plants and is ideal for creating the typical relaxed atmosphere of Zen gardens. It is a species increasingly used for decorative purposes and a plant that grows quickly so it is possible to cover large spaces in a short time.
What not everyone knows is that in addition to the more traditional bamboo there is an alternative version. This is the black bamboo, a variety of bamboo very similar to the classic one whose main characteristic is color.
An original bamboo
Black bamboo is nothing other than the typical bamboo but black in color. Its official name is Phyllostachys nigra 'Munro' and it is a very adaptable plant that will easily adapt to different types of climates, such as the Mediterranean, tropical, Atlantic or mountainous climates.
Belongs to the botanical family Graminneae and is native to China. It is a stoloniferous bamboo, that is to say that it has underground stolons. It is common for it to invade other areas of the garden and therefore it needs a rhizome blocker. Except for these cares, it is a very interesting plant, both for its striking black color and for its rich foliage. Its flexible canes and light leaves allow the plant to move with the wind, also creating a relaxing effect of sound and movement.
This plant resists winds and frost as long as they do not exceed the average. It's about a evergreen herbaceous shrub which, like its companion on the road, is fast growing, meaning that you can have it at home and decorate the green space in a very short time with the advantage that it is a variety that is as original as it is striking.
Black bamboo maintenance
El black bamboo requires a level of medium maintenance and it is ideal to place next to the walls or to divide the garden and create sections. It is a non-toxic plant without berries so there is no risk of dirtying the soil. In addition, it is not demanding in water and can survive without inconvenience with moderate irrigation.
The plant needs to live in conditions of sun or semi shade and it also requires subscribers throughout the year, especially during the spring, always taking care that they are rich in nitrogen. In turn, the leaves of the plant that fall serve as mulching. In addition, maintenance pruning is necessary at the end of winter to remove old or damaged canes.
Among the most frequent pests and diseases is the spider mite, a creature that is very difficult to fight and usually appears during the summer. For that, pruning is important to prevent the canes from growing too much. The attack of aphids is also frequent, which in turn attracts black fungi, so it is necessary to take care that the black bamboo is in an airy place because when it is in a place with little air circulation, aphids tend to appear with a higher incidence.
In hot and dry summers the spider mite can appear, difficult to combat. By preventing the reeds from growing too close together, you reduce the risks of spider mites and other parasites. On the other hand, it can be attacked by aphids, mainly in summer and when it is located in places with little air. The discharge from the aphids will attract non-harmful black fungi, which are easily removed with water.