You will not be able to find seeds because bamboo produce seeds only rarely -- like once in several decades or longer -- and Black bamboo is not in flower. I have been growing bamboo for quite a few years and have to tell you that growing from rhizome can have a low success rate. I have had anywhere from 0-50% success, depending on the species. Bamboo go into a state of dormancy when it gets cold, so now is not the best time to start rhizomes, and they don't keep well. You might succeed now if you try this in a warm place, with plenty of sun, but spring would be better.

I will email you to discuss this further.

Oh, alright then. Thank you very much. I was aware of the rarity of the seed, I was just hoping against hope that someone might have had a bunch lying around. I am responding further with an email.

They sell phyllostachys nigra seeds on eBay, however I have heard many stories of a whole batch of seeds, of lets say 50 and none of them germinate so if you do buy them, make sure they can guarantee you that they have fresh seeds which will germinate if grown properly which will require either a south facing window with strong light, or a 100watt + metal halide or equivalent light source which has full spectrum light to prevent etoliation over the winter.

I have also heard from many of my customers that rhizomes have a low success rate. I would suggest trying bambooweb forums which has many other bamboo growers who might have small divisions available, which is how I got my P nigra a couple years ago, but if you can't find anyone with it, or get some good seeds, you could always just buy from bamboo gardens which has always been dependable for me.

Thank you for all the information! Actually, Kudzu9 and I are negotiating a trade now. They offered to give me actual plants as opposed to rhizome cuttings, so I am quite excited right now!