Phyllostachys

Phyllostachys is a genus of running bamboos in the grass family Poaceae, native to East Asia, especially China, Japan, and Korea. The genus comprises numerous species characterized by leptomorph (running) rhizomes and hollow bamboo culms that can reach several meters in height. Phyllostachys species form dense rhizome networks and can rapidly colonize suitable sites, a feature that requires management in cultivation to prevent unwanted spread.

Most species are temperate-climate bamboos with woody culms that emerge seasonally and persist for many years. The culms have prominent nodes and internodes, and the leaf sheaths often persist on the culm for months. Some species exhibit distinctive culm coloration, such as yellow culms with a green central stripe in aureosulcata, or dark green to nearly black culms in nigra.

In cultivation, Phyllostachys is valued for timber, fencing, and ornamental use. Shoots are edible when harvested young and used in cooking in East Asia. Because they spread by long rhizomes, running varieties can be invasive in favorable climates; gardeners often install deep rhizome barriers and cultivate them in contained beds.

Notable species include Phyllostachys edulis (moso bamboo), a major timber bamboo; Phyllostachys nigra (black bamboo), popular ornamentally; Phyllostachys aurea (golden bamboo) and Phyllostachys bambusoides (giant timber bamboo). The genus is widely cultivated outside its native range in temperate regions.