Right now I've only got a P. bissetii that is getting really leaf-burned out there, and I've finally found some free local stuff from a friend that I can pick up in the spring. I'm not sure yet, but it sounds a lot like P. aureosulcata (yellow groove). Seems to be doing well enough for this other guy (punching holes in the driveway and whatnot) so soon I'll have 2.
P. rubromarginata and P. nuda are on my want list, but I'll have to be the local guinea pig on those ones I fear. : )

I have a Fargesia murielae. It started as a 1 gal and has been in the ground for 2 summers. Both winters it has been fully covered by snow by the time that the really cold weather arrived. It has not shown any growth as yet.

Cuttlefish, I want to get a p. nuda too, they look nice! :) If it's any help, usually if they die to the ground they will come back up the next year, only they won't spread very fast. I am going to take a piece of the henon inside this year and see what color the cane turns, every year they usually die back, and I don't get to see any color change, they stay yellow, instead of that cool gray they are supposed to turn.

Allen, wow I am amazed that you have anything that far north, how tall does it get?

They are supposed to grow up to 12' and have an umbrella shape. I had hoped to get mine to grow as tall as 6' to 8' eventually. When I got it bare root it was 1' tall. 2 summers later it is still 1' tall. Kind of like my holly-- too tough to kill but not tough enough to prosper. You would be surprised what I have been successful in growing, so far.

But it got down to -44*C/-48*F on the outskirts of the city this winter and my success may be coming to an end. I may have to start mulching and protecting them.

The Bamboos that I am growing or killed in Zone 5 is at: http://www.bambooweb.info/bb/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=2

Bill

Here is a link that might be useful: Bamboo Profile

I live in Detroit zone 6 by the updated zone map. Here is a list of tall running bamboo that I have grown here and measurements from the fall.

Arundinaria gigantea 13Â Tall

Phyllostachys aureosulcata 27Â tall

Phy. aureosulcata aureosulcata f. Spectabilis 18Â tall

Phy. aureosulcata alata 14Â tall "not mature"

Phy. aureosulcata 'Harbin Inversa' 7Â tall "not mature"

Phy atrovaginata 10Â "not mature"

Phy. bissettii 20Â tall "4 years old"

Phy. nuda 26Â tall

No Phyllostachys nigra species worked well for me in my climate.

Yellow groove! It's doing really well. It's taking over the place, which I like. It does have quite a bit of winter burn this year though.

Wow, thanks everyone for the info! I'm trying to get some different varieties so that I can have a 'mixed bag' for our road frontage and also obscure the view of our neighbors. I might get a p. nuda or maybe a bisetti, not sure.

Bill, thank you!!! for the link!! :)

mersiepoo,
I noticed your comment on the color of your henon culms.... Most Phyllostachy culms will fade to yellow when exposed to sun. You need to have a small grove with a little bit of height for the leaves and outside culms to shade the ones on the inside.

Celtic, you might want to start your own thread so more people will see your request. Unfortunately my little 'boo grove is still too small to harvest any decent canes. You might want to put an ad in craigslist.com for someone local to your area?

Rfgpitt, hmm, I didn't know that about them. :) Hopefully in a few years they will be big enough to create their own shade. I've had them since 2002 or so and they are still small, during bad winters the culms die back totally, but new ones come back in late spring. I think the grove is about oh, maybe 10 feet long total.

I might grow yellow groove this year, it's hardy to -15 or something. :)