Identification? / Large running speices

20 years ago

Here is a pic.

{{gwi:419843}}
Present on the site where I reside in Zone 12, SE Georgia. The grove produces ~200 shoots per year beginning in late March. 30 to 40 feet tall and 1/2 to 4 inches in diameter.

Survival rate is only 10% as tree squirrels decimate new shoots. I'd like to find out what species this is, as my father wants to aquire and introduce it to some of his property. Several transplating efforts have yeilded unacceptable results.

Any advice on a method to reduce damage by the rodents would be very much apprectiated as well. Sprays of foul smelling and/or extremely hot concoctions have met with limited success.

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Comments (5)

suprdude
20 years ago
Sorry, can't say which species but wow, is it ever beautiful!
brendan_of_bonsai
20 years ago
Zone 12 in georgia? are you useing sunset zones or USDA zones? I preffer USDA as they are dependant on winter temps rather than just being rather arbitrary devisions streached across the US. I cann't Identify it for you, but as far as squirells go you may have luck fencing the bamboo in and putting a terrior of some sort in, allmost all terriors are rodent killing dogs.
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inversa
20 years ago
it could well be phy nigra 'henon' as the size and the coloration of the older canes (gray-white) are correct for that species
kudzu9
20 years ago
1. Could also be Ph. edulis (moso)
2. You can protect against squirrels by getting wire mesh and forming it into cylinders that protect the shoots until they get to be 12"+ and have hardened off. I have had success with the green coated mesh with 1/2" X 1/2" openings that is sold in rolls at Home Depot.
focalpoint
Original Author
20 years ago
Thanks for the ID replies, the compliment and heads up on the USDA zones. USDA zone = 8B

I have a Jack Russell terrier, and I'm confident if the bamboo ever shoots up in the garage where he sleeps all day he will protect it. j/k...he does what he can to chase the rodents away but the grove spreads out all around the house. He mainly stands guard in the front where the island grove is....100% success rate in there but it's small. Only 7~10 new shoots per year.

The squirrels will dig down and get the new shoots before I can find them...especially if it is a dry spring. I have had limited good results with a product called 'Deer Off' available at Lowes. (main ingredient putrefied eggs)

I thought about using wire mesh, but as soon as you take it off they will eat the head of the shoot. I have watched several 4~5 inch specimens reach full height, only to have the squirrel climb to the top and kill it before it can put out branches/leaves. Even after they establish branches I have seen the rodents "prune" them....going after moisture/nectar...whatever it is that seeps out of the wound.

I may resort to live traps....just to reduce the population.

oh yeah...I'm new here.

Kenny