By Ted Jordan Meredith; 406 pages, hardcover If you are planning to include bamboo in your garden, this book will be your lifelong guide. The author, a Washingtonian, uses many beautiful photographs and a a gift for interesting prose to explain all about using bamboo in your garden landscape. Learn much about the many varieties including techniques for growing, controling, thinning, eating, harvesting and propagating bamboo.
(Pleiblastus fortunei) Called dwarf white stripe, it grows only about 2 1/2 feet tall with bold green and white variegated leaves. Better than Jesse James at holding up a bank, nothing beats groundcover bamboo for stabilizing soil, even though the mat of rhizomes only go about one foot down. Plant 1-2' apart. Keep ground cultivated and loose and plants spread well and are easily transplanted. One gallon size.
(Hibanobambusa tranquillans 'Shiroshima') This midsized bamboo is suited to containers or the garden. It is an aggressive runner, growing to 16' in the ground, with beautiful yellow and white variegation on the leaves. It does best in morning sun or filtered shade. Gallon sized.
