Florida Bamboo Forum

Im pretty sure it is due to frost damage. I think the bamboo would be larger by now, but all the large culms die in the freezing weather and every spring it starts out with these small shoots. It usually starts sending out new large shoots mid summer and continues growing progressively larger shoots until fall. I wonder If I protected it in the winter if it would start out in spring sending up large shoots? I tried 2 years ago and built a small wire and plastic structure around the bamboo, but we had several hard freezes that year and all the culms died anyway.

Where are you guys at that you are getting damage on your Oldhamii like that? I know my Vulgaris does this but it is really temperature sensitive under 28F..Oldhamii is good to the lower 20's Perhaps you should search out a more cold hardy bamboo rather than under going the pains of trying to keep a tropical bamboo alive where it shouldn't grow.