Tornello Nurseries

Bambusa Species (Clumping)

B. dolichomerithalla Green StripeB. dolichomerithalia detail
Upright, 2” diameter yellow and light-green culms have green stripes; to 35’, with broad, dark-green leaves. Strikingly beautiful. Hardy to 25 degrees. Ideal interior plant.

Alphonse KarrB. glaucescens Alphonse Karr

Bright yellow culms with green vertical stripes and dark green leaves (5”x.75”). Culm diameter 1.75” at 28’. Hardy to 16 degrees. New shoots appear pink.

Fern LeafB. glaucescens Fernleaf

Arching green culms with fine, abundant foliage (3”x.5”). Culm diameter .75” at 16’. Compact hedge ideal for all screening applications. Hardy to 15 degrees. 7 G/5’-6’

Tiny Fern B. glaucescens Tiny Fern
This very graceful bamboo is ideal for rock work, ponds, pools, or low hedge, below 8’, as it is soft and feathery with hundreds of fine canes that gently bend to its own weight due to the thousand of 1/8”X3/4” leaves per stem. It looks like and exotic Chesquea bamboo @ 1/3 the price and 5X the durability as it takes cold and frost, and draught once established. Hardy - 15 degrees.

B. glaucescens Golden Goddess

Very fine arching culms up to .5” diameter; turns golden at maturity in full sun. Hardy to 17 degrees. B. glaucescens Multiplex Original form of hedge bamboo; similar to Fernleaf in appearance but can grow to 28’. Hardy to 15 degrees.

B. glaucescens Silver Stripe

The largest cultivar of this species (up to 38’); used primarily as a specimen or screening plant. Beautiful look, with white-striped leaves in Spring. Hardy to 15 degrees.

B. malingensis
This striking bamboo combines qualities of several of the species, as it gets the silver silica powder like chungii, has very strong wood remaining erect, it has a graceful foliage like gracillis, and has a slight (10%) outward lean which provides more elegance than most upright clumpers. It is hardy to mid teens, and grows well in coastal areas however we do not know its tolerance to salt, so plant inward of the beach, not on it. Malingensis reaches a height of 40 ’ with a 2.75” culm.

B. mutabilis
Straight, green canes that can grow to heights of 65’. Culm diameter of 2-3”, and heavy, dense foliage at the upper canopy. Used primarily as a specimen planting. Hardy to 10 degrees.

B. oldhamii
IMPORTANT NOTE: We carry the California cultivar of Bambusa oldhamii, which is the only hardy (cold-tolerant) one. Be aware that Bambusa vulgaris (green), a non-hardy, tropical bamboo sold in South Florida, is frequently misrepresented as Oldhamii. Our true Oldhamii is hardy to 15 degrees and tolerates heavy frost with no damage.

B. oldhamii, Taiwan cultivar
Where this species differs from the above the foliage is larger and more tropical in appearance. It is also a deeper emerald green. The character of this bamboo is similar to mutabilis as it is upright with some gentle cascade. This plant makes a wonderful stand-alone specimen or screen as it gets wider than the CA form. It is not as salt tolerant as the CA form.

B. textilis (True form)
Erect green canes, clear of foliage up to 1/3 of overall plant height; culm diameter of 2.5” and distinctive, abundant leaves. Textillis is such a pretty specimen as it has the grace of the big running timbers and remains a tight clumper, due to the canopy in the upper portion of the stand, it looks full but not crowded. We have used this in many interior projects where the light levels were supportive of its full development. Hardy to 13 degrees.

B. textilis cultivar fasca
differs from the above form as it lacks the white silica powder on the culms and has a smaller leaf.

B.tuldoides
Another hardy clump forming bamboo to 55-60’. Culms to 2.5” thick walled, with dark green abundant foliage. Minimum temps 15 degrees f. Used for large screen requirements, canopy will lean outward 15 degrees at maturity. In full containers.

B. ventricosa
Also known as “Buddha Belly Bamboo”, it has green culms of up to 3” in diameter, which, when the plant is propagated in poor or dry soil, develop short, swollen internodes (hence the nickname). When planted directly into the landscape, this bamboo will reach 45’ or more in height. This is a very salt tolerant bamboo.Hardy to 15 degrees.

B. ventricosa Kimmei
Similar to the above with yellow culms and green vertical stripes, We have found this cultivar to take salt as well as the true form, and its striking culms of make it a winner, the new side branches are a pale yellow pink. 15 G/ 7-8’

B. vulgaris Vitatta

Informally known as “Hawaiian Striped Bamboo”, this eye-catching plant has bright gold canes—up to 4” in diameter—with green vertical stripes. It is a famously tropical species best suited for climates above 32 degrees. (not a good shade plant as it may flop under the foliage weight)

B. vulgaris waminB. vulgaris wamin (giant Buddha belly)
This unique plant remains short at maturity 14-16’ with 3-4” diameter culms that are internode compressed every 3-5” making a striking belly. They like all vulgaris species are tropical in nature and will freeze and show damage from heavy frost. They recover but a protected area is recommended from central Florida, north. Specimen plants.

Phyllostachys Species (Grove-forming)

P. aurea
Also known as “Golden Bamboo”—although it is primarily a green specimen—P. aurea is very popular. It has lush foliage and sturdy green culms of up to 2.25” in diameter, some of which have interesting-looking compressed internodes. This is a beautiful choice for screening, both in warm and cool climates. Hardy to –4 degrees.

P. aurea holochrysa
A shorter version of the above form, except all culms emerge golden, with internode compression. This is one of our best patio plants as it is very showy, and is generally a low maintenance plant as it seems happy in containers.

P. aurea Koi
Similar to the above forms with yellow culms , vivid green panel (sulcus) and occasional varigation in foliage. Beautiful; cold tolerant to 0 degrees.

P. aureosulcata
Larger plant than P. aurea, this bamboo has culms of up to 2.25” in diameter which feature a distinctive yellow groove. There are also random zigzag culms throughout the plant. P. aureosulcata is extremely cold tolerant: it’s hardy to –15 degrees!

 

P. aureoslulcata aureocaulisP. aureosulcata Aureocaulis
Similar to the above with yellow culms and the sulcus panel bright green. Very striking contrast, it gives the appearance of a tropical, yet just as hardy as the species it was derived from.

P. aureosulcata spectabilisP. aureosulcata Spectabilis
Similar to the original form in stature and cold tolerance. It shows beautiful pink branching in early spring when new culms emerge, then turning a uniform soft yellow with distinct bright green panel below each opposite branch.

P bambusoidesP. bambusoidesP bambusoides detail
This bamboo is also known as “Japanese Timber Bamboo”; it has large (4”+) diameter, dark green canes that are prized for wood. Leaves measure 6”x .75”. Some culms turn yellow or silver at maturity. A proven success for interiors. Hardy to 5 degrees.

P. bambusoides castillonis
Similar to the above with culms to 2.5” with an overall height of 38’. Culms are bright yellow with a green panel on the sulcus. Some varigation is seen on the foliage. Another great showy variation for patio containers, and the landscape.

P. NigraP. nigraP. nigra closeup
Or, “Black Bamboo”, as it is widely known, is a gorgeous specimen, the canes of which turn jet black at maturity in full sun. The leaves are lacy and green. When used in interiors, it requires high light levels; Hardy to 0 degrees.

P. nigra cultivar Hale;
Similar to the above with jet black culms, remains in the 12-16’ range. We found this cultivar to be one of the best long term container plants as it does not mind the reduced soil mass. Hardy and very beautiful. Some larger, inquire.

P. nigra Henonis
Also “Henon Bamboo”; gray-green culms to 4” in diameter and full, green foliage. Interior installations require at least medium light. Hardy to –5 degrees.

P. nuda
Strong, elegant blue-green culms up to 2” in diameter; foliage is very full. This is one of the most cold-tolerant bamboo in cultivation: it’s hardy to –25 degrees and is thriving beautifully in all zones. An excellent source of perennial forage for animal habitats, as it is absent of leaf hair and is sweet not bitter tasting raw. (browse production farms receive very special pricing)

P. heterosycla pubescens; (Moso)
The largest of the phyllostachys tinber bamboo’s. A versatile plant that once established always amazes with grace and size. Groves have been established as far north as the Carolina’s, Max culm diameter is 7” @ 80+’.

P. viridis Robert Young
Golden-yellow culms with vertical striping; this bamboo is similar in appearance to Hawaiian Striped bamboo, but it’s more upright in appearance and much more cold-tolerant: it’s hardy to –8 degrees.

Otatea Species

O. acuminata
Also “Mexican Weeping Bamboo”, this has thin, arching, purplish culms with abundant, very feathery foliage. It is an “open clumper”, meaning new culms emerge within 3-6” of one another. It’s frost-tolerant and hardy to 18 degrees.

O. acuminata aztecorumO. acuminata AztecorumO.acuminata Aztecorum detail
Similar in appearance to Mexican Weeping bamboo, but with wider leaves. Max. height is 20’. Hardy to 25 degrees. A very striking cultivar as this larger form makes a great stand alone specimen, or striking in a giant urn.

Dwarf Species

Lithachne humilis
A compact clumper with lime-green to dark-green foliage measuring 2”; maximum plant height is 18-24”, with a 24-28” spread. Excellent for understory planting in shade locations where root containment is not an issue. Foliage folds up at night. Hardy to 28 degrees.

Pleioblastus pygmaeus
A highly versatile dwarf bamboo that reaches 6-8” in full sun and up to 12” in deep shade. Excellent for mass understory use; it is shallow rooting, and slow-spreading. The plant of choice for erosion control in commercial applications. Hardy to 0 degrees. Pleioblastus varigatus Similar to above with cream varigation in the foliage. 3 G/8-10”

Semiarundinaria Species

S. yashadake Kimmei
A very stunning bamboo from Korea, growing a few feet taller than arrow bamboo (below) to 20’ growing easily in full sun to medium shade levels. What set’s this apart is the yellow culm with green panel, and abundant dark green foliage, @ maturity the culms are 1.5” and has a tropical plant feel and look. Hardy to 0 f.

Pseudosasa Species

P. japonicaP. japonicaP. japonica detail
Also “Arrow Bamboo”; first Asian bamboo introduced to the U.S. Heavily sheathed canes up to .75” in diameter; dark green, unusually wide leaves palmate in appearance. Ideal for shady locations; while technically grove-forming, it’s extremely slow to spread and well-suited for many applications. Hardy to 5 degrees.