Bambusa Multiplex
"Hedge Bamboo"

My species make an excellent hedge, whether pruned or left natural. I have green culms that become yellow as they mature, especially if I am grown in the full sun. I am a very vigorous & fast-growing plant and have extremely strong fibrous roots which have been used to hold back Chinese & Japanese rivers.  If you want a 15' high hedge in a hurry - either me or my brother Alphonse Karr are excellent choices.  

In China, my culms are used to make umbrellas, mats & handicrafts.  In Malaysia tea made from a handful of multiplex shoots pounded with 100 white peppercorns & drank on 3 successive mornings causes miscarriage (or a very upset stomach!). A bunch of nervous teenagers pounding 100 peppercorns before breakfast would make anybody
sick, with or without bamboo.

In 1970, I was commonly called B. multiplex in the U.S. In 1982, we changed to B. glaucescens because the American Bamboo Society used that terminology.  In 1987, we changed back to B. multiplex because American Bamboo Guru Doctor Tom Soderstrom said we should.

We have been known to survive very severe winters of 7 degrees F with no damage.