Phyllostachys angusta, first obtained 1907 by Frank Meyer for the USDA and described in 1945 by McClure, is native to Southeast China. It has greyish green culms up to 8m, 26ft tall, though usually not reaching that in the U.K. Combined with almost white culm sheaths (which help to distinguish it from the similar P. flexuosa) and lighter green leaves, it gives an overall impression of paleness. In U.K. conditions it has shown itself to be very hardy and not usually an energetic runner. In the U.S. it is sometimes given the rather misleading common name ‘Stone Bamboo’, despite the culms being distinctly thin-walled. The Latin name ‘angusta’ means narrow, and describes the tips of the culm sheaths. In addition, the plant’s short branches mean that the foliage is closer to the culm, giving it a narrow appearance. In China it is used for weaving, and the shoots are eaten, being free off the bitterness of many other species.
