Green Stripe Vivax Giant Timber Bamboo

Phyllostachys vivax ‘Aureocaulis’

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 6a-11 Find Your Zone

Type: Running, moderate

Height: Up to 70′, in cooler regions maybe 50′

Spread: 10’+ with no control

Culm Diameter: 5″

Sun: Full to Mostly Sun

Soil: Average, well-drained

Growth Rate: Fast

Salt Tolerance: Moderate (Salt Air, no flooding)

Description

One of the most impressive of the striped bamboos, Gold Vivax Bamboo, Phyllostachys vivax ‘Aureocaulis’, also commonly called Green Stripe Bamboo, is a spectacular rare collector species that has not been in the U.S. long. A majestic giant with bright yellow canes and random dark green stripes of varying widths is distinctive and truly remarkable. It is the most cold hardy of the large timber bamboos and establishes very quickly. The oral setae and auricles are absent from the culm sheaths. There is also white pin striping on many of the green leaves. A fast grower to 60 to 70 feet tall in warmer climates and maybe 30 to 40 feet in cooler climates, this bamboo forms a grove of large, 5 inch diameter culms. Gold Vivax likes as much sun as you can give it for best coloration but will grow in part shade. Cold hardy to -5°F.

Average Height by USDA Zone

USDA Zone 7: 60 feet or more in height

USDA Zone 6: average 30 feet in height

Landscape & Other Uses

Containers/Pots: Too large

Crafts: Good

Edible: Excellent

Hedge: Too tall

Indoor: Too large – PLEASE SEE: How To Grow Bamboo Plants Indoors

Ornamental: Excellent

Specimen: Good, high branches

Wood Quality: Excellent

Note: For our customers who live and garden north of USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6a, where this Bamboo is not winter hardy, you’ll be happy to know it can be grown in containers that can be brought indoors during winter and placed back outside when temperatures warm up in spring.

Growing Preferences

Gold Vivax Bamboo is easy to grow in any average, well-drained but moist soil and full to mostly sun, though because of its large leaves will tolerate part shade. During the first growing season after planting, water as needed to keep soil around the plants moist, but not soggy or wet. When established, most bamboo will tolerate periods of dry weather, however, will appreciate an occasional deep soaking if the leaves begin to curl from drought stress.

How To Grow Bamboo Plants Indoors

Gold Vivax is a running bamboo, which means it spreads. Bamboo can be controlled in a small area (a normal city yard) simply by mowing or stepping on the young shoots. New shoots of some bamboo can also be used for culinary purposes and cooked, much like asparagus. Keep in mind that running bamboo only puts up new shoots for a short time each year and, when they are “shooting,” the new plants are very fragile and easy to destroy. Root pruning or installing Bamboo Root Barrier are other methods to control spread.

Helpful Articles

Click on the links below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant and care for Bamboo plants.

How To Grow Bamboo Plants Indoors

How To Plant Bamboo Plants In The Ground

How To Plant Bamboo Plants In Containers & Pots

How To Fertilize And Water Bamboo Plants

How To Prune Bamboo Plants

How To Stop The Spread Of Bamboo Plants

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The two eculytus and the one bamboo arrived healthy and green 5.0 of 5.0
Thank you—————————————————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Purchased this and another type of bamboo. They arrived together in a 6′ box in surprisingly good condition. I unboxed them, replaced a little soil and set them in place to recover. I am holding off planting for now because we are a month out from freezing weather, so will plant in the spring, but so far both plants are doing well.———————————————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Bamboo arrived in good shape very happy Zone 8a————————————————————We are so glad you are pleased with your purchase! Thanks for the great review! Beth | WBG 🙂

Very impressed with the quality of the bamboo from Wilson Brothers. The plants were very healthy and fully leaved out. The packaging was the most secure I have ever experienced. The packaging attention shows a level of quality that mirrors their plants. Two years ago I purchased several bamboo plants from another company in Georgia and when they arrived they were thin on leaves, the plants looked washed out and the packaging was half hearted. None of the plants lived. Wilson Brothers will be the only place I make any future purchases of bamboo in the future.————————————————-We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Better than expected..large healthy plant ty.————————————————————We are so glad you are pleased with your purchase! Thanks for the great review! Beth | WBG 🙂

Great company to deal with , both plants in good shape, the Vivax got a little beat up , box was crushed but plant looks ok ( I hope so ,I put it in the ground ….:) …Thanks for your Great Service ! If I can make these grow …I’ll be back !!————————————————-We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

I ordered a 3 gallon bamboo and it arrived in a nice package and well packed. The plant was of a nice size and seemed of high quality. Looking forward to seeing how it grows!————————————–We are so happy you are pleased with your purchase! Beth | WBG

The plant arrived well-packed, and at about 4′ tall, was larger than I had expected. It had some new growth, and adapted well to its new site, losing only a few leaves, which were soon replaced. I’m looking forward to seeing how it develops.————————————–Thanks for the great review! Beth | WBG