Download Golden Bamboo - Natural Biodiversity

BioBullies
Impacts:
Golden bamboo spreads
quickly throughout an
area, making it difficult for
any other vegetation to
grow. It creates dense
monocultures and can
decrease native
biodiversity. Most native
animals in the U.S. do not
use golden bamboo as a
food source, so natural
predators are almost
non-existent. When
golden bamboo takes
over an area, it is very
difficult to control.
Golden
Bamboo
Suspected Means of
Introduction: Golden
bamboo was introduced
to Alabama in 1882 as
an ornamental plant and
has since spread quickly.
Description: Golden bamboo is a dense growing evergreen that
reaches heights up to 33 feet tall, though it’s only 1 to 6 inches round.
Common in all bamboos, are the hollow, segmented stems known as
clums. The leaves are lance shaped stretching up to 6 inches long and
1 inch wide. The edges of the leaves are without lobes, may be rough
or smooth, and occur in irregular pairs. The flowers of golden bamboo
appear only once in 7 to 12 years so they are an uncommon
distinguishing characteristic.
Phyllostachys aurea
BioBullies
Native Range: Asia
Golden Bamboo
Phyllostachys aurea
Resources for
Identification and
Control of Golden
Bamboo
Plant Invaders of
Mid-Atlantic Natural
Areas – National Park
Service and U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service
Weed of the Week - USDA
Forest Service
Plant Profile Database USDA
Invasive.org
University of GA, US Forest
Service, USDA APHIS
The National Institute of
Invasive Species Science USGS
Habitat: Golden bamboo thrives
in full sun in most climates, but
requires some shade in extreme
heat. It will grow in sparsely
wooded and secondary forests
where sunlight can penetrate.
Vigorous growth and spread is
seen in moist, deep loamy soils,
though it will continue to grow and
spread at a slowed rate in less
than ideal habitats. It is,
however, a tolerant plant,
allowing it grow in the Northern
U.S. because of its tolerance low
to low temperatures.
Biology: Golden bamboo grows
Natural Biodiversity
rapidly from underground
rhizomes. Though it can rarely
reproduce from seeds, it has that
capability.
Control Methods: Small
infestations golden bamboo can
be controlled by mowing or, where
herbicides cannot be used, by
making sure to cut plants as close
to the ground as possible. This
should be repeated several times
throughout the growing season as
plants re-sprout. The most
effective herbicides for golden
bamboo control are made from
concentrated solutions of
glyphosate solutions.
538 Park Avenue
www.naturalbiodiversity.org
Johnstown, PA 15902
e-mail: [email protected]