Sinarundinaria nitida

A well known, popular and readily available bamboo species making dense clumps of very elegant tall slim upright canes no thicker than a pencil, purple-black in colour and topped by airy spays of evergreen foliage. The clumps spread very slowly but each year's new growth is taller until plants reach their maximum height. This is a good species for growing in a sheltered border for foliage interest amongst shrubs- it does not withstand exposure.