Overrated for ease, underrated for beauty — Black Bamboo

People describe Black Bamboo as easy and I'd push back on that slightly. watering heavily in the first season to establish the root system needs consistent attention and running bamboo spreading beyond its intended boundary can undermine progress quickly if ignored.

Where Black Bamboo is genuinely underrated is the beauty. rapid establishment and fast vertical growth is extraordinary when you see it in person. I display it in a privacy screen along a boundary fence and it gets comments from everyone who sees it. foliage refresh as older leaves shed in late winter is the time to really understand what this plant offers. Not for the truly neglectful gardener, but absolutely worth the attention it requires.