Bambusa ventricosa (Buddha Belly Bamboo)

A popular species for containers, Bambusa ventricosa (Buddha Belly Bamboo) is a decorative evergreen bamboo noted for the swollen or bulging internodes of its canes resembling the fat belly of the Buddha. Deep dark green, the culms, 1 in. wide (2.5 cm), are smooth and glossy, maturing to yellow-green. Upright in habit at first, the canes tend to arch under the weight of the heavy foliage of long, dark green leaves, up to 7 in. (18 cm). Very ornamental, this non-invasive tropical bamboo makes an impressive container plant and is an excellent choice for a privacy screen in warm-temperate conditions. To produce the swollen internodes, the plant needs to be underpotted, dried out, or under-fertilized. A lovely subject for bonsai. Hardiness: 32 to 23ºF (0 to -5ºC).

• Grows up to 40-55 ft. tall (12-16 m) and 30-40 ft. wide (9-12 m) in its native environment. Will grow only 5-8 ft. tall (150-240 cm) in containers.
• A full sun to part shade lover, it is best grown in fertile, moist soils. Avoid overly wet soils.
• A great choice for hedges and screens and containers.
• Virtually disease free. Keep an eye out for aphids, cottony scales, and bamboo borers.
• Remove weak, dead, damaged or spindly stems in spring and thin to show off stems to best effect. Cut out any flowering shoots promptly to discourage more from forming.
• Propagate by division or take cuttings of sections of young rhizomes in spring
• Native to China