ID wanted!

[AlainK]

I was given this plant that looks like a small bamboo. It's been in this little pot since the spring and is less than 10 cm tall (4 inches). I also don't know if this plant is hardy, or not. If it's not, it could be a Pogonatherum.

I've often seen it as an accent plant but can't find the name: can you help?

 

[sorce]

FTP that's a beautiful rock!

Sorce

 

[AlainK]

FTP that's a beautiful rock!

Another gift, by Maryse, our "Regional -and National- Secretary" of the FFB (French Federation of Bonsai Clubs). Yes, women are a minority in the bonsai world, but like in any other aspect of society, they're the ones who can take responsabilities and make the world a better place, no?

If it could grow a little higher, the plant/pot combination should be great.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

I believe it is indeed a true bamboo. Most likely genus Plieoblastus very likely Plieoblastus disticha. There are 3 or 4 dwarf Plieoblastus species, another possibility is humilis, and pumila. But I think distcha is the more likely.

The clues are the jointed culms, also called stems, or canes in the larger bamboos. The presence of culm sheaths on the culms, that look very much like my P. disticha. This species is relatively common in cultivation, as far as bamboo go.

Plieoblastus disticha in a pot is probably only winter hardy to -4 C, or about +25F. In the ground, once established it can survive somewhat colder winters, but not a lot colder.

If you find Plieoblastus viridi-striata, it is incredibly winter hardy, my "patch, or planting" of viridi-striata has survived for 25 years, routinely getting down to -30C every other winter. (-15F).

 

[AlainK]

Pleioblastus disticha.

It could be, the ways the leaves are inserted on the stem is very similar.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

It could be, the ways the leaves are inserted on the stem is very similar.

As a species for bonsai / kusamono I like it a lot. Stays short, usually less than 10 cm, sometimes up to 29 cm, but easy to keep short. It runs and in a mixed planting within a couple years will have culms coming up randomly through the planting. It is not overly aggressive, when planted as a ''lawn mimic'' in a pot with a large tree, it won't out compete the tree.

I am working on learning to use the dwarfing technique John Naka outlines in his book Bonsai Techniques II, to compress the internode lengths of timber bamboos to really create bonsai bamboo. I've gotten the technique to work for a single culm, but timing is critical and when used, the rhizomes of the bamboo have to be healthy, well rooted, and loaded with energy to spare. My first trial was a recent division and not up to the task. I now have 2 trays of rhizomes that I am beefing up but keeping ''bonsai pot size'' to venture back into this project. If it works I'll start a separate post.