Golden Bamboo is an herbaceous perennial with a rigidly upright and towering form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage. This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. Golden Bamboo is primarily valued in the landscape for its pronouncedly upright and towering form. Its pointy leaves remain green in colour throughout the season. The green stems are very colorful and add to the overall interest of the plant. Golden Bamboo will grow to be about 20 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. It tends to be leggy, with a typical clearance of 2 feet from the ground and should be underplanted with lower-growing perennials. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen! This plant performs well in both full sun and full shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division. Golden Bamboo is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. Its large size and upright habit of growth lend it for use as a solitary accent, or in a composition surrounded by smaller plants around the base and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.
