Moso


Phyllostachys pubescens.

From: China

Characteristics
Under suitable climate conditions Moso can grow to heights of over 20m. coupled with a diameter of nearly 18 cm. Its growth was measured by Japan's "Bamboo Doctor", the late Professor Koichiro Ueda, at 120 cm a day. Shall I say that again? This rate of growth is unmatched among woody plants.

Moso is characterised by Its numerous, small leaves. When Moso is a seedling, its leaves are amongst the biggest of all bamboo, but as a mature plant the leaves are among the smallest of all bamboo species.

The new culms are blue-green in colour and covered with soft down.
Photos by by Jiro Asano, domosama

Requirements
Moso flourishes in moist, well drained and fertilised soil. Its height will be considerably reduced under warm climate conditions or if it lacks nutritional elements.
Temperate conditions (minimum temperature 0 F, -18 C), assist in achieving its maximum growth potential

The first shoots of Spring
Bursting with special bamboo powers
Hey ho, Hey ho
Interest
Moso is the largest of all running bamboo yet has tiny leaves, millions of them populating giant plumes that nod in the slightest breeze. Around Anji county in the Zhejiang province - China - hillsides are covered with velvet green Moso, feeding thousands of small and not so small factories producing a huge range of useful products.

In Japan, Moso is considered by many as best eating bamboo.