Phyllostachys Bissetii is named after David Bissett. You will fall in love with this cold-hardy bamboo that gracefully dances in windy or open places.
Quick Facts
- Common name: Bissetii, David Bisset’s or Bisset Bamboo
- Botanical name: Phyllostachys Bissetii
- Type: Running bamboo
- Average height: 30 ft, often only 20-24 ft
- Average diameter: 1 inch
- Hardiness: -10° F (-23 °C)
- USDA zones: 6 to 10
- UK Hardiness Zones: H7-H2
- Light requirements: Partial to no shade, also full sun
- Best use: Landscape, food, ornamental, and fences
Note: The height of this plant really varies by the sun and heat that it gets. Plants in zone 7 can get taller than 30 feet, while plants in zone 4 may only grow 8 feet.
What are the characteristics of Phyllostachys Bissetii?
This bamboo grows fast. Bissetii grows upright from 15 to 30 feet high. It can spread up to 24 inches. It sometimes tends to be leggy. This bamboo can tolerate a temperature of below -10° F.
Phyllostachys Bissetii shows a firm standing and towering structure. You will surely appreciate its thick and green upright canes. The fine touch makes it special compared to other garden plants with less polished leaves.
Bissetii is a herbaceous evergreen perennial. It can face intense environments. Make sure that there is nothing planted below. The sun will not be able to penetrate them. The life expectancy of this bamboo is roughly 20 years.
How to care for Phyllostachys Bissetii?
This bamboo survives in both full sun and even full shade but it chooses to grow in normal to moist conditions. It can be reproduced by division. There are readily available non-perishable root barrier that can be used to contain Bissettii.
It is slightly tolerant of metropolitan pollution. It is not picky when it comes to soil type or pH. It has a tough root system which makes it grow even in urban places.
The only problem is over or under watering. Phyllostachys Bissetii in containers must be regularly observed to ensure it won’t become too dry or waterlogged. The indication of inadequate watering is normally browning or loss of leaves. Just make sure it would not dry out.
How to grow Phyllostachys Bissetii in a container?
Most bamboo plants grow successfully in containers or pots. It may be more labor-intensive than growing in the ground because they require more watering. You may need to re-pot them when you think they are big enough.
You may fertilize your containerized bamboos regularly throughout its growing season. Undernourished bamboo will show signs of yellowing or pale green leaves. If this appears, adjust your watering routine. Wait for some signs of recovery.
What are Phyllostachys Bissetii benefits?
Bamboo offers a lot of benefits. Some are even unexpected. Check this out!
Privacy fencing
Almost everyone needs privacy in their garden. You may also want to maintain the looks of nature at the same time. This problem presents a great opportunity to make use of Bissetii as your living screen. Decorate your patio with its shiny dark green culms and leaves even in winter.
It is so strong and thick. It makes excellent privacy protection and a reliable windbreaker. Bisset’s Bamboo is an excellent choice for any type of garden. It is also a great pick for growing in outdoor containers. Its considerable size and upright growth habit make it a single accent.
Just make sure you take care of the spread if you choose to plant it in the ground.
Edible shoots
The bamboo shoots can protect yourself from the contagious flu. It has anti-inflammatory benefits. The potassium level of shoots is great for stroke prevention and kidney care. It also offers natural sterols that help maintain a healthy heart. It also helps you deal with constipation. Its shoots taste like sweet peas.
Make sure you prepare them correctly, though!
Relaxation
The sound of the rustling leaves and canes create a pleasant ambiance that will relax your mind. Bamboos present a calming scene and transmit peace and tranquility.
Its lively green color is good for the eyesight. The green color is more suitable based on our retina, cerebral cortex, and nervous system. It has the ability to lessen strong lights compared to other colors.
Photo source: Filostachys [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons
6 Comments
My bissetti bamboo trees leaves are turning brown and dropping off. I was told it’s spider mites and to use kontos miticide. I don’t know where to get this and is this the only/best product if this is my problem. Thanks, Elliot
Hi Elliot, that’s sad to hear. If it’s really spider mites (I assume you saw them), you can also try neem oil or mixing pepper spray (soap water (9 by 1) and cayenne pepper) before going the chemical route. If this doesn’t work, you can get diverse insecticides. I haven’t found the product that you have mentioned in your comment but there are more options like from “Garden Safe” or “Bayer Advanced” that may do the job of killing the eggs. Brown leaves on bamboo can also be a sign of wrong watering. Check out this post: https://bambooplantshq.com/why-is-my-bamboo-plant-turning-yellow/
I hope I could help!
I have been growing my bamboo since 2011 and it was beautiful. I noticed a lot of it is brown, which it always stayed green, but it looks like a lot died because of the super cold we did have in December of 2022. I was wondering will the roots grow more bamboo where the ones died at? And do you think the roots will be ok?
Hi Susan!
Sorry to hear this about your plants! This is a tricky question to answer without knowing your region and how cold it got. There is a high chance that it can grow back in the spring though. You may want to trim all culms back that look 100% dead and then wait for spring to see where new growth emerges. If the roots are still ok, new shoots should come up right next to your current ones. To learn more, you can read our blog on What Happens When Bamboo Freezes?
I just started growing Bisseti bamboo in 6ft x 2 ft x 2 ft galvanized stack tanks to provide privacy along the fence line between my neighbor. I decided to do containers to avoid the Bisseti from spreading to far. One question I didn’t think to ask was is there a chance the bamboo flowers and drops seeds in my neighbor’s yard – risking the chance of bamboo getting in their yard anyway? Just curious.
Thanks
Hi Kisha!
Bamboo flowers only every 50-100+ years. So it’ll will be a very rare occasion but it CAN happen. However, in that case she can simply trim back the branches with flowers. You may also want to communicate with your neighbor about the potential risk of bamboo spreading into their yard and work together to address any concerns.