Golden bamboo Phyllostachys aurea
Golden bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea) is an evergreen perennial grass in the Poaceae family, native to China (cultivated in Japan for centuries). It grows 3–6 m (10–20 ft) tall and 2–5 m (6.6–16 ft) wide, wants part sun to part shade and moderate water, and is hardy to about -20 °C (-4 °F). Space plants about 1.5 m (4.9 ft) apart.
Plan Golden bamboo in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Golden bamboo at a glance
| Type | Perennial grass, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Poaceae |
| Mature height | 3–6 m (10–20 ft) |
| Mature spread | 2–5 m (6.6–16 ft) |
| Spacing | 1.5 m (4.9 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Part sun to part shade, at least 4 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance low, waterlogging tolerance low |
| Soil pH | 5.5–7.5 |
| Cold hardiness | About -20 °C (-4 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 6) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 35 °C (95 °F) |
| Wind tolerance | Moderate |
| Pollinator value | None |
| Edible | Yes: young shoots (boiled; raw shoots are bitter and cyanogenic) |
| Native to | China (cultivated in Japan for centuries) |
| Common in gardens of | 🇨🇳 China, 🇯🇵 Japan, 🇺🇸 United States |
| Invasive in | US (southeastern and other states; running rhizomes escape cultivation): check local rules before planting |
Is Golden bamboo toxic?
- People: mildly toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
- Parts: raw shoots
Raw shoots contain cyanogenic glycosides (taxiphyllin) and must be boiled; the foliage is not rated toxic to pets by the ASPCA.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Golden bamboo
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like part sun to part shade and moderate water.
See Golden bamboo in a botanical garden
It grows in these sample gardens, which you can walk through in 3D:
- The Huntington (6 plants)
- Gardens by the Bay (3 plants)
- China National Botanical Garden (7 plants)
- Fairy Lake Botanical Garden (9 plants)
- Missouri Botanical Garden (4 plants)
- Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro (3 plants)
- Monet’s gardens at Giverny (8 plants)
- Denver Botanic Gardens (4 plants)
- Jardin botanique de Montréal (5 plants)
Questions about Golden bamboo
- How far apart should I plant Golden bamboo?
- About 1.5 m (4.9 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 2–5 m (6.6–16 ft).
- Does Golden bamboo need full sun?
- Part sun to part shade: at least 4 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Golden bamboo need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is low and waterlogging tolerance low.
- How cold-hardy is Golden bamboo?
- It tolerates about -20 °C (-4 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 6.
- Is Golden bamboo poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people mildly toxic. Raw shoots contain cyanogenic glycosides (taxiphyllin) and must be boiled; the foliage is not rated toxic to pets by the ASPCA.
- What grows well with Golden bamboo?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Golden bamboo. Group it with plants that like the same sun (part sun to part shade) and water (moderate).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade C (C: plausible, mixed evidence).
- RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
- Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder, Missouri Botanical Garden
- CABI Invasive Species Compendium, CABI
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Notes and assumptions
- Running bamboo: plant only with a rhizome barrier (about 60 cm deep) or in a contained bed.
- Gregarious flowering is rare (decades apart) and is not modelled; flowering is set to never.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Fountain grass Pennisetum alopecuroides
- Sweet corn Zea mays var. saccharata
- Lemongrass Cymbopogon citratus
- Clumping bamboo Fargesia murielae
- Maiden grass (miscanthus) Miscanthus sinensis
- Switchgrass Panicum virgatum
- Little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium
- Blue fescue Festuca glauca