Gigantochloa Atroviolacea
"Giant Black Bamboo"

I am a magnificent, erect sooty black-culmed bamboo, a very attractive ornamental species from Java and Sumatra. I can reach heights of 55 feet, with culms 4 inches in diameter. My young culms emerge initially dark green, but soon change to a deep brown-black or deep purple black color, making me a very desirable variety.

I retain my black coloring after harvesting, which makes me very much valued for furniture and musical instrument making. My culms, sometimes with light colored stripes, are exposed and leafless for many feet, then capped with dense downward pointing leaves. My dark hair covered shoot is edible.

I am sometimes called Tropical Black Bamboo, but I am more versatile than that. I also thrive in Southern California, but I do not get as big as I do on Maui. I can withstand temperatures as low as 28°F (-2°C), and I love the full sun.