‘Spectabilis’ Green Groove Bamboo

Phyllostachys aureosulcata ‘Spectabilis’

Other Common Names” Yellow Groove Bamboo, Showy Yellow Grove Bamboo

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 5a-11 Find Your Zone

Type: Running

Height: 20-30′

Spread: 10’+ with no control

Culm Diameter: 1.5 to 2″

Sun: Full Sun or Part Shade

Soil: Average

Growth Rate: Fast

Description

A rare and beautiful collector species and exceptionally cold hardy, Green Groove Bamboo has unusual yellow and green striped canes that grow very dense to give you a great, colorful privacy screen. Bright yellow coloration of the canes with the green stripe in the sulcus grooves is absolutely beautiful. Even more, its dark foliage contrasts wonderfully with the yellow canes. A fast grower to 25 to 30 feet tall in warmer climates and 15 to 25 feet in cooler climates, this bamboo forms a thick grove of 1.5 to 1.75 inch diameter culms. Spectabilis likes as much sun as you can give it for best coloration but will grow in part shade. Handles windy sites better than Yellow Groove Bamboo and is cold hardy to -15°F.

Average Height by USDA Zone

USDA Zone 7-11: 20 to 30 feet in height.

USDA Zone 6: 16 feet in height.

USDA Zone 5: 12 to 14 feet in height.

USDA Zone 4: average 8 feet in height with some top kill during severe winters

Landscape & Other Uses

Containers/Pots: Good

Crafts: Good

Edible: Good

Hedge: Good

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

Ornamental: Excellent

Privacy Screen: Excellent

Specimen: Good, in containers

Wood Quality: Excellent

Note: For our customers who live and garden north of USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6a, where this Bamboo variety is not reliably 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

Green Groove Bamboo is easy to grow in most any moist but well-drained soil of average fertility and full sun to part shade. Coloration is best with at least 5 hours of direct sunlight per day. During the first growing season after planting, water as needed to keep soil around the plants moist, but not soggy or wet. Established plants have good drought tolerance.

How To Grow Bamboo Plants Indoors

Green Groove 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 Green Groove 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 a link 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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I received a beautiful bamboo plant via Fedex. It arrived in excellent condition as it was packaged with care. It has even grown a bit since I planted it! The specific care & planting instructions on the product page were very helpful. I will definitely be shopping with Wilson Bros. again.———————————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy your purchase for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and wonderful review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Recently bought 4 plants. Arrived and were beautifully packed with care. I’m extremely pleased with these plants and this company. I will definitely buy more plants from them. Great choices and great website!—————————————————Thanks for the kind words and awesome review! We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

My golden Bamboo is a very nice 6′ plant that almost immediately had 3 more shoots take off. Couldn’t be happier!———————————————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Beautiful, healthy plant perfectly packed by people who care. I love Wilson Bros!————————————————————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG