Black Bamboos Flowering Dying

[@SimonDavies-y6c]

Our 20-year-old, 4 metres tall, beautiful, clump forming Black Bamboo in Norfolk, UK, is now in full flower - but for your video, I would never had known about this world-wide phenomenon. Thank you for enlightening us - even if it means we now know that it will probably die.

[@YorkshireKRIS]

Yes it looks like all will be in bloom within the next year or so

[@BeFree-BeFrugal]

Love the sound of the wind through your bamboos

[@lindseykaine-walley6339]

I have a young black bamboo so this is really interesting to hear. I will keep checking it. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@colinfielder4550]

Hi Kris, I was the person who reported that my P. Nigra was flowering on you channel a few months back. My plant was the standard species P. Nigra - it was completely covered in flower with very few new leaves. Unfortunately I've moved house since then so can't report on how the main plant is performing, however I did take a large pot full with me. Over winter there were virtually no leaves and most of the flowers had dropped off too. I almost put it in the skip when we moved, however kept it to see if there would any sign of life in the Spring. There are what looks like a mixture of leaves and more flowers currently emerging - so not dead yet, but signs of life somewhat sparse.

[@YorkshireKRIS]

Thanks for the information and update. So far it seems that both boryana and nigra are flowering which is more of a concern.

[@colinfielder4550]

@@YorkshireKRIS The thing that’s even more disappointing is that I wasn’t able to find any viable seed on the main plant before we moved. Lots of flower - followed by empty husks. I’ll keep eye on the fragment of plant I’ve got left, but I’m not holding my breath. Hopefully your plants aren’t from the same lineage as mine (if it works like that?).

[@laurafelstead7930]

Our black bamboo has also completely flowered, I had no idea why it looked like it was dying off until I found your video, so thank you. Sad though that it probably won’t make it, as it’s a massive clump that works as a screen in our garden.

[@YorkshireKRIS]

Yes it's very frustrating. Thankfully there's lots of none flowering bamboos to replace it

[@westleyhickman1464]

Hi Kris, I thought mine had died and couldn’t work out why as they were well cared for and weirdly it was 2 mature plants out of 11 plants.I was Googling ‘bamboo with stunted leaves’ etc to find out why… now I realise they have flowered!! These were bought as Phy Nigra from The Palm Centre many many years ago. I’m based in the South West of England and I now plan to enjoy the summer with remaining plants but then dig them all out next spring… mammoth task! Thanks so much for all your videos, they are always so informative.

[@sandyroberts3727]

This has been so helpful. I had no idea what was going in with my bamboo but google led me to you. It’s fascinating but I do think I’ll lose my bamboo. I’ll cut off the flowering heads and see if it survives.

[@YorkshireKRIS]

Fingers crossed

[@dottyandted38]

Hi Kris, I’ve come across you during my search to find out about my black bamboo, which I now realise is in full flower. I didn’t even know bamboos flowered and although really interesting it’s disappointing to find out it’ll probably die. I also live in Yorkshire!

[@trevorg9241]

Yes!! From Vancouver Island, b.c. Canada our black bamboo is flowering!!

[@notnilzab1]

I had a patch of bamboo which flowered and died about 6 yrs ago. I tried removing the base rhizomes! Impossible. So I cut them right back to base, being near a large pond I ‘ladled’ silt from the pond floor to cover all the dead remains completely . I then planted black bamboo on top. I now have a thick growth, some 2.5cms (stems ) across. It is now flowering!

[@richardwolles6236]

I live in Oregon USA, my black bamboo started flowering last fall. My Bory is planted next to it and so far it's fine.

[@YorkshireKRIS]

Thanks for the info. I think all types could flower this season or next

[@richardwolles6236]

@@YorkshireKRIS I have cut down all flowering culms and have been fertilizing and watering regularly. I have had many small shoots come up about the size of a pencil. Some around 8 ft. tall. The question is will they put out seed heads too. I am hoping they wont and next spring new growth will appear.

[@wiebestuive824]

Phyllostachys nigra has 3 well-known varieties: Phyllostachys nigra 'punctata' (which is the variety with the thin canes that turn to black, and two timber bamboos with fat culms: Phyllostachys nigra 'Boryana', whith mottled culms that never turn black and Phyllostachys nigra 'Henonis' with fat culms that always remain green. As a rule of thumb, you can count on runners to survive flowering, such as all the Phyllostachys; the clumpers almost always die.

[@fergus247]

i believe its the other way around, the clumpers usually survive the runners do not. Hope i am wrong!

[@AlyCatNat]

Mt black bamboo is flowering right now too, I'm in western Washington. I hope it doesn't die it is a treasure.

[@simonquinn6512]

Thanks for the great info. My Phyllostachys Nigra Boryana is currently fully flowering. I'll try cutting back and feeding it. Fingers crossed... Update. Lots of new growth has appeared and so far doesn't seem to be flowering any more...

[@DoozyyTV]

Did you cut off all the seeds? Mine is flowering now.

[@simonquinn6512]

@@DoozyyTV yes. Cut it to the ground. Weird thing is, when it grew back… it flowered again. Seems happy enough but somewhat diminished in size and strength.

[@DoozyyTV]

@@simonquinn6512 hmm it might keep flowering till it runs out of energy and dies from the sound of it. Thanks for the update

[@summerxx7894]

Hi it’s Harry your sons friend good vids

[@dianaeveristcox8020]

My black is also flowering (Pacific Northwest USA). The last bamboo I had flower was a clumping Blue Fountain. I cut it back but all the new shoots ended up flowering also, so I finally killed the roots. I'll try cutting back and feeding as you mention -- too sad to lose 2 favorites.

[@maverickquilts7299]

I’m in the San Francisco Bay area in California. My 50+ year old black bamboo stand, which probably covers 60 ft.² is in full bloom. The canes are well above 30 feet tall and leaning over, heavy with the flowers and seeds. I wonder if other Californians are having a big bloom right now, too. From reading the comments, it looks like the Pacific Northwest in Canada had their bloom last year.

[@chengcheng6353]

My black bamboo is in heavy flowering. I am in south California.

[@maverickquilts7299]

@@chengcheng6353 i’m sorry to hear that. It really does seem as though the bloom traveled from Canada down to southern California over a two year span.

[@King_of_carrot_flowers]

That sporadic, coordinated flowering is very scientifically curious and interesting

[@michellehughesdesign261]

Mine started flowering in June and is looking a bit sickly with some die back starting on the top leaves. I’m in Yorkshire.

[@YorkshireKRIS]

Sorry to hear it

[@UrsusOceanicus]

I just recently noticed my P. nigra "Bory" (about 15 years old, with the splotched canes) is producing a heavy crop of seeds. My P. nigra "Henon" hasn't thus far. These are (were...?) growing in Nova Scotia, Canada.

[@juliashearer7842]

My phyllostachys aurea spectabilis flowered for two or three years running. I thought it would die but it is still alive. I grow it in a pot and I split it last year and it is regrowing well. In the wild, the roots of the parent plats would not be dug out?

[@costa-verde]

Have 3 flowering right now in Victoria bc Canada was wondering what was going on!

[@YorkshireKRIS]

Let's see if they survive!

[@kat7777]

I know this is off piste but why do some green cordyline go all yellow and brown ends in South facing sun when they're predominantly from that kind of temperament?? I don't get it 🇬🇧

[@sallyb8987]

Hi Kris - went on a 3 week holiday only to return and find my P.Nigra in complete flower. Have just left it for now but a bit sad that it could die as it has been a great addition to my garden. Have you an idea how far this is happening yet?

[@Voivi]

My black bamboo went into full flower this summer. It was only about 10 years old and now it is full of thousands of seeds. I do hope it lives on, but it appears doubtful.

[@GotoHere]

I have Timor Black bamboo. My wife didn’t water it while I was a way. Nearly killed it. The. I nursed it back, moved it outside. Then out of town for 2 weeks.. The house sitter didn’t water it. Nearly dead. How can I revive it. The 100 degree heat is killing it here in San Antonio Texas.should I try to fertilize it?

[@yupperz6494]

I have a black bamboo (running not clumping) that's about 10 years old that is flowering. We live in the Pacific Northwest in the States. Its planted next to a yellow and solid species. The other 2 species don't appear to be affected. So sad for my black bamboo- hopefully it's not going to die but it's completely flowered on all sections of every stalk. 😞

[@peca1n]

When bamboo is in pots is it best to keep the pots well watered or allow to dry between watering?

[@YorkshireKRIS]

Keep constantly moist

[@faithmorgan8324]

my dad has 3 large clumps of black not sure of variety as he's had it a long time, I also have a couple of canes off them in a pot. all of ours are in flower. all 3 of my dad's look terrible be interesting to see what happens but will wipe out a whole area of garden if they die :(

[@susanluddeke4972]

My black bamboo (running apparently) flowered and died...so now if i cut it down I also have to dig up roots or it will invade my whole yard? This is what I have been told. I can't just mow it?

[@YorkshireKRIS]

If it's truly dead it won't resprout but the rhizome and root ball will be very very tough to dig out. It can be done but it's very hard work, especially if it covers a large area

[@susanluddeke4972]

@@YorkshireKRIS what if i leave it what then?

[@YorkshireKRIS]

@@susanluddeke4972 I've left my dead C gigantea bamboo roots and rhizomes in the ground and let the seedlings grow in that area

[@phildavidson8476]

Our groves of black bamboo at Jade Mountain Nursery in Tacoma, Washington is now in full flowering mode here in the Pacific Northwest near Seattle, Washington. We are gathering the mature seed and will plant in the Spring. I don't know if the seed will produce new black seedlings or more commonly revert back to the standard green color. Who knows? Life is a roll of the dice.

[@YorkshireKRIS]

There's been more reports from the Pacific North West than anywhere else it seams

[@angelalamb6707]

Just a follow up to my comment 5 months ago. I cut my down to the ground to see what happened and it's still alive, I have some shoots and new stems, so it's still alive. Will they grow seed free? thanks. I'm reluctant to take it out if it might be ok.

[@YorkshireKRIS]

I've had more people tell me that the new regrowth quickly went to flower again but a couple have had non flowering regrowth

[@angelalamb6707]

Ok good to know. I’ll keep going and let you know how it goes. Thanks

[@angelalamb6707]

​ @YorkshireKRIS Update on this. After cutting out two plants down to the ground 7 months ago after the flowering, we now have healthy 6ft tall and bushy plants, green leaves and fingers crossed no sign of any flowers. Not sure how long other plants take to go back into flower but hoping it will be ok. No sign of seedlings either.

[@YorkshireKRIS]

@@angelalamb6707 that's very positive news

[@angelalamb6707]

My black bamboo has totally flowered and completely brown, does that mean it's dead? Should I just take it out now?

[@YorkshireKRIS]

It's very likely dead now if it totally flowered. You'll probably end up with 1000s of seedlings over the next few years popping up

[@angelalamb6707]

Can i can cut it down myself? any tips from yourself or anyone else the best way to do so? thank you! @@YorkshireKRIS

[@michaelcollins5308]

is golden or green bamboo fine to buy or avoid those awell

[@YorkshireKRIS]

As far as I know those aren't flowering so should be good

[@michaelcollins5308]

@@YorkshireKRIS would you reccomend golden or green for any other reason?

[@YorkshireKRIS]

@@michaelcollins5308 it'd really down to what you prefer

[@bloggalot4718]

I have six different bamboos but the P. Migrants gets stripped at the top by sparrows each summer, none of the others get attacked. I can’t net it as it is many years old and about fifteen feet high. No signs of flowering yet though.

[@rogthegardener1]

Sparrows love stripping off the new leaves on our p. Nigra too

[@ikekhanassociates]

Boreneii or Boryana?

[@YorkshireKRIS]

Boryana

[@gordonissocoollike]

My black bamboo is very slow growing , I’ll give it blood fish and bone and cross everything.

[@okantichrist]

Give it lawn fertilizer and plenty of water

[@Zebra-yq8lr]

One of mine flowered last year. Looked like barley offshoots, not flowers. This year it's dead!!

[@Zebra-yq8lr]

This was in East Midlands UK

[@YorkshireKRIS]

That's so disappointing

[@Zebra-yq8lr]

Just to add, my second black bamboo is also flowering now too. 40C heat is stressing it too in recent weeks. Probably a gonner too : (

[@trevorg9241]

This mass flowering phenomenon is called gregarious flowering.These slow flowering species exhibit another strange behavior - they flower all at the same time, all over the worldMost bamboos flower once every 60 to 130 years. The long flowering intervals remain largely a mystery to many botanists.The mass flowering events also attract predators, mainly rodents. The sudden availability of fruits in huge quantities in the forest brings in a tens of millions of hungry rats who feed, grow and multiply at alarming rates. After they devour the bamboo fruit, the rats start consuming crops - both stored as well as on fields. A bamboo flowering event is almost always followed by famine and disease in nearby villages. In the northeastern India's state of Mizoram, the dreaded event occurs almost like clockwork every 48 to 50 years, when the bamboo species Melocanna baccifera flowers and fruits. The phenomenon, which occurred last in 2006 to 2008, is known in the local language as mautam or "bamboo death."

[@magentamagenta1274]

@trevorg9241 That is fascinating. We live in Australia and have a creek with a large number of black bamboos some we propagated into our garden. It loved the wet soil and was thriving but last year appeared to die, we wondered if there was something toxic in the water. It’s now black but leafless so hopefully will regenerate.