Bambusoideae Phyllostachys Bambusoides [Japanese Timber Bamboo]

 Phyllostachys bambusoides is a large, tall bamboo from the sub-family Bambusoideae. 

It grows to over 10m in height, ideal for a walkthrough, large garden, or woodland forest. 

This running bamboo is also called Giant Timber Bamboo (other names include Medake and Japanese Timber Bamboo).

Bambusoideae Timber Bamboo for Sale

The giant timber bamboo plants are hard to find in pots online. Some UK suppliers may sell them on request or source them for you. 

Here is where to buy Giant Timber bamboo plants online. We listed some top UK Home and Garden bamboo suppliers like Crocus and YouGarden.

We list some Giant Timber Bamboo Seeds suppliers on Amazon. 

Phyllostachys Bambusoides (Bambusoideae) Features

• Name: Phyllostachys bambusoides, Madake, Giant Timber bamboo, Japanese Timber Bamboo
• Site: Full sun to part shade
• Soil: Prefers fertile and well-drained, moist soil
• Uses: Walkthrough, woodland forest, large garden.
• Winterhardiness: - 10 to – 15 degrees Celsius.
• Height: 15 - 20m, tall upright bamboo.
• Spread: 5 – 7m, running bamboo.
• Foliage: Evergreen Bamboo with spectacular slender long leaves.
• Culm colour: Thick woody stems, green to golden yellow when matures.

Grow Phyllostachys Bambusoides Japanese Timber Bamboo

The Giant Japanese Timber Bamboo belongs to the bamboo sub-family Bambusoideae, known widely as the Phyllostachys Bambusoides, Japanese Timber Bamboo or Medake.

This impressive bamboo is one of the largest bamboo plants that adapt to the temperate region. 

It thrives in full sun to part shade where the soil is moist but well-drained. Ideal plant for large botanical gardens, walkthroughs and woodland forests.

The Giant Japanese Timber Bamboo loves mild temperatures and high ceilings if grown indoors. 

Alternatively, keep it in pots and containers and place it on the patio or terrace where there is enough sunlight.

The giant timber bamboo plants also thrive in contained spaces and will be reasonably taller than other Phyllostachys varieties. Therefore, take its spread and height into consideration, before choosing a site for planting.

The Giant Timber bamboo and Edulis Moso Bamboo are the two common bamboo plants from the gigantic sub-family Bambusoideae. P. bambusoides can grow in the temperate European climate, including the warmer parts of the UK.

Specimens of these two large bamboo plants can be seen at the beautiful Kew Gardens London or the Trebeh Gardens Cornwall.

Protect tall bamboo plants

The Timber Bamboo is hardy to – 20 degrees Celsius, but unlike its large cousin the Moso Bamboo mentioned earlier here, this bamboo does not like the cold. 

This giant bamboo is susceptible to frost and frozen soil. Prolonged temperatures below 0 degrees Celsius can completely damage this giant.

To save your bamboo from any irreparable damage, add a thick layer of organic mulch or move it to a sheltered site where the cold and frost will not affect it.

Act quickly if you see the browning of leaves or culms. 

If they are growing in pots, cut the long culms and put the plants in a sheltered site. That way, the plant will survive and put out new growth in Spring.

Propagate Giant Timber Bamboo

There are three ways to propagate bamboo plants – from the seeds, by culm and rhizome cuttings, or by separation of the main culm base.

Some people have successfully used conventional ‘Layering’ as the fourth way to propagate large bamboo. 

However, propagating bamboos from the cuttings and by separation is, by far, the two popular ways to get successful plants in the UK.

We list some Giant Timber Bamboo Seeds supplies on Amazon. 

Phyllostachys bambusoides (Japanese Timber Bamboo)

The Phyllostachys bambusoides (Giant Japanese Timber Bamboo) can be hard to find in the UK. 

The best places to see these impressive evergreen bamboo plants are the botanical gardens. Kew Gardens and Trebeh Gardens.

Check at your local Garden Centres or Nursery and ask for the Phyllostachys bambusoides. Or mention the names Medake, Giant Timber Bamboo, and Japanese Timber Bamboo.