Phyllostachys vivax aureocaulis - replacement?

[charlie]

I am a great fan of Phyllostachys bamboos ordinarily and thought I had figured out how to keep them in check with my trusty mattock and a system of moats, however I had rather stupidly thought the constructed concrete block bed shown below would retain it, I have been patching the block work as it pushes apart for a couple of years but yesterday realised that the wretched thing has duck dived 3' to the left and is heading off under the brick pavers in the sunken part not in shot. the main problem is at that level it could just as easily be going under the pond itself and I suspect the pond liner would not stand a chance.

So has anyone any suggestions for a replacement plant? it needs to to have some height, not be too dense and be evergreen, would consider a different bamboo, wife has suggested Eucalyptus (gregsoniana which is small) but the leaves go funny in water so I would rather not. Lastly its in the coldest spot in the garden in full sun.

[Grub]

What about a Fargesia Charlie?

[charlie]

Not very impressed with the Fargesia I have (robusta I think) thin caned and spreads like mad, are there others I should look at before condeming the whole genus! :) I was thinking Thamnocalamus crassinodus 'Merlyn may look ok I have Kew beauty which has bulked up to a half decent plant, would it be better behaved? don't mind spreading its the duck diving I am objecting to!

[Chad]

So has anyone any suggestions for a replacement plant? it needs to have some height, not be too dense and be evergreen, would consider a different bamboo.

Doesn't that rule out most of the bamboos?

I have been reassessing mine and there is a painful truth.

For 6 months of the year they look rubbish. From the first proper autumn gale [usually November] until late May they look dead.



And the Borinda that were sold to me for blue culms don't drop the culm sheaths here. They may be blue, but all I can see is the sheath!

Given the setting I think you need a wind breaking evergreen shrub.

If you want to grow a viticella up it then it should have smallish leaves, but it is a key position so it needs to be 'special' and always tidy.

If it doesn't need to host part of your national collection then an architectural large leafed evergreen would work.

As suggestions;

Small leafed evergreen; Neolitsea sericea or if you would prefer a pale [variegated] effect Rhamnus alaternus 'Argenteovariegata'?

For larger leafed; a good form of Magnolia grandiflora [is 'Galissonnière' the wind tolerant one? Kevin Hughes recommends 'Kay Parris'] or [fully wind tolerant here] the genus hopping Neopanax laetus?

Chad

[charlie]

Chad that Bamboo looks awful!

I suppose its why I have like the Phyllostachys sorts, at least you have the culm colour, but in truth none of mine defoliate like that.

My Borinda just died, Kew Beauty does give me Blue culms but they don't stay Blue, they go a straw colour after a few months, I am guessing Merlin will do the same.

Neolitsea sericea, is huge, at least the ones I have seen were, but the leaves and berries would have been good, and is a tough looking thing. Rhamnus alaternus 'Argenteovariegata I have elsewhere and it is too large a grower, I am always having to hack it back!

Magnolia grandiflora that I have sheds old leaves continuously, not going to be good near a pond, shame as other than that looking down the slope at it would be good.

Neopanax laetus, I hadn't heard of, but I like the look of that and may seek it out, you say wind tolerant, whats it likely to think of the lack of tree cover here?

I am gutted to have to hack down a good looking plant and wait for 3 years for its replacement to look half decent :(

[Chad]

Neopanax laetus [it used to be Pseudopanax] is to the right of the C.indivisa in this pic. Neolitsia is to the left. They have all been in about ten years, and only the Neopanax has been cut back [often - it wants to be a tree here].



They are in open ground and without a wind break.

I hope the picture works. It has been 'borrowed' form a post on GOTE; the original fried with a pernicious virus in my last computer.

I have seed of the Neopanax planted [bought in - it is dioecious and mine is a lone female] so if it comes up you are welcome to one.

Chad.

[charlie]

I hope the picture works. It has been 'borrowed' form a post on GOTE; the original fried with a pernicious virus in my last computer.

I have seed of the Neopanax planted [bought in - it is dioecious and mine is a lone female] so if it comes up you are welcome to one.

Chad.

Picture works fine, and yes please to a seedling if you are successful!

[tony]

How about a Schlefflera ? A nice grouping of Impressa would be evergreen and not drop leaves in your pond all the time, and not too dense. You can coppice them if they get too tall.

[Chad]

I've been reassessing S.impressa as well!

In the same photo as the disappointing bamboo [on its right] is a mature S.impressa. Interesting and I used to be so proud of it; but it isn't a thing of beauty!

Two extra thoughts have occurred to me.

1. How are you going to get the bamboo out? My lazy approach is to cut bamboos off at three foot and then to glyphosate the leafy regrowth. I would then plant an annual climber to cover it up for a year!

2. Does that site need to 'work' in a special way. It is in a key position. Does it have a particular season when it is most needed? Does it need to act as a wind break? Since you open your garden, does it need to be really good for peak tourist times [August] or peak sales times [is that now?]?

All sorts of exciting ideas have occurred, but without knowing more stringent selection criteria all thoughts are a bit random!

Chad.

ps. Eucryphia cordifolia, Hoheria sexstylosa, Brachyglottis rotundifolia, Eriobotrya deflexa; the random thoughts continue!

[charlie]

Finally getting around to sorting this out, I have taken down the concrete block retaining wall on one side so I can mattock out the plant when feeling frisky! I was surprised at how far down is just solid root, virtually no soil left and as you can see from the pictures its been very naughty :o

061 by charliepridham, on Flickr

062 by charliepridham, on Flickr

063 by charliepridham, on Flickr

We still cant think of anything that will look as good in this spot (thats hardy) so may well put some bamboo back but in a large heavy duty pot sunk into the bed, and I may make the wall when I replace it weaker so it starts to go if the damn thing escapes from the pot!