Giant cane, Arundinaria gigantea

Description for Giant cane, Arundinaria gigantea
Plant height: 32 – 48 inches
Plant spread: 5 – 9 inches
This woody grass or bamboo becomes 4-24 inches tall. Primary culms are devoid of leaves below, while above they have ascending leafy branches. Primary culms are green, terete, hollow, glabrous, and up to 1 inches across, becoming increasingly woody below. Secondary culms from lateral branches are similar to the primary culms, except they are more narrow. Most primary culms remain erect, although sometimes they bend sideways from the weight of their leaves and lateral branches, particularly when there is an absence of support from adjacent vegetation. Alternate evergreen leaves develop toward the apex of the primary culm and along its lateral branches.

Common name(s): Giant cane and Rivercane.
Flower colours: Green
Bloom time: April- May
Max reachable height: 4-24 inches
Difficulty to grow: Easy to grow.
Planting and care
It is propagated through seeds. sow the seeds in a pot when the temperature is 20 degrees C. Water the seeds regularly. Seeds will germinate in 8-10 days. Place the seedlings in the light shade until they fully establish.

Plants can be propagated vegetatively by rhizome, culm and branch cuttings. The propagules are raised in a nursery and after they have produced roots and developed rhizomes they are planted out in the field during the rainy season in pits filled with a mixture of compost and soil.

Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade.
Soil: Well drained and fertile soil.
Water: Water the bamboo plant moderately.
Temperature: 20 – 30 degrees C
Fertilizer: Apply any organic fertilizer during spring.
Caring for Giant cane
All dead and dying culms to be cut from the base leaving one/two nodes from the bottom and removed from the third year of establishment. Thorns to be pruned from the base of the clump every year preferably during the months of November –December.
Irrigate the bamboo plant regularly for 1 – 2 years of growth after that watering can be reduced.
Managed bamboo plant properly with routine pruning, thinning and cleaning, and by adopting proper sanitation measures, Bamboo usually escapes pest/fungal infestations.
Typical uses of Giant cane
Special features: It is a plant of Poorvashadha Nakshatra.

Ornamental use: It can be use as hedge and fence.