Bamboos never look their best in winter because the cold, drying winds will often scorch their leaves. In late spring however, new canes will appear bearing a fresh batch of lush foliage.

• Position: full sun or partial shade
• Soil: humus-rich, moist, well-drained soil
• Rate of growth: average
• Leaves: narrow, mid-green
• Canes: green-grooved, golden-yellow turning bright red in sunlight
• Hardiness: fully hardy
  
  Tall bamboo with green-grooved, golden-yellow canes, which can flash with shades of red in the sun, fading to darker yellow with age. This colourful variety looks great alongside the ebony-black canes of the black bamboo, Phyllostachys nigra. This aptly named coloured-stemmed bamboo is one of our 'highly recommended plants'.
  
  
• Garden care: In smaller gardens, surround the roots with a non-perishable barrier that restricts the plant's spread.