Pseudosasa japonica (Siebold & Zucc. ex Steud.) Makino ex Nakai

Arrow Bamboo

Shrub

Perennial

Vascular

Arrow Bamboo is an introduced perennial woody member of the Grass family (Poaceae). It is native to Japan and Korea. It Alabama it has been reported as an escape in the southern half of the state. Arrow Bamboo escapes in residential areas, along streams, and in disturbed woodlands. It is a perennial with long creeping underground rhizomes. The culms (stems) are hollow, jointed, and up to 16 feet in height. The stems are often dense, giving the plant a shrub-like appearance. Leaves are alternate, lanceolate in outline, and up to 1 foot long and 2 inches wide. The evergreen leaves are dark green and glabrous above and light green to glaucous below. The lower surface of the leaf has scattered short red-brown hairs. The leaves have entire margins and taper to a pointed tip. Flowers are rarely produced. Arrow Bamboo is a widely planted cold hardy bamboo. Its dense growth make it excellent for screens. Arrow Bamboo is listed as an invasive species in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and West Virginia. It has been reported as an escape in California, Connecticut, Florida, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Arrow Bamboo is similar in appearance to our native bamboo species (Arundinaria sp.), but has much larger leaves.--A. Diamond

**

Not Native

**