Phyllostachys nigra

Phyllostachys nigra is called black bamboo in Dutch. It is a large, evergreen bamboo with a rather loose, upright, columnar habit. The leaves are narrowly lanceolate, up to 12 cm long, shiny and colored dark green to medium green. They stand on sturdy, upright culms, initially green, later they evolve into purplish-black and eventually integral, glossy black. This bamboo prefers a sheltered position in full sun or partial shade and a moisture-retaining, but well-permeable, humus-rich soil. Phyllostachys nigra is reasonably to hardy, but prefers a sheltered position and good mulch in winter. It is only moderately drought tolerant, tolerates mild sea breezes and air pollution and is virtually unaffected by disease.