Northwest Blooms · Perennials
Phyllostachys sulphurea 'Robert Young'
Robert Young Sulphur Bamboo
- Family
- Poaceae
- Height
- 20 to 30 ft
- Width
- 10 to 20 ft spreading colony
- Flower color
- Inconspicuous tan grass like flowering rarely seen in cultivation
- Foliage color
- Bright green narrow lance shaped evergreen leaves
- Bloom time
- Irregular infrequent flowering cycles often decades apart
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade
- Water
- Moderate
- Maintenance
- Moderate running rhizomes require containment and removal of unwanted shoots
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 7 to 10
- Wildlife
- Provides shelter for birds and habitat for beneficial insects
About this plant
Phyllostachys sulphurea 'Robert Young' forms upright groves of smooth golden canes brushed with green striping, their polished surfaces catching changing light through the seasons. Slender leafy branches create a soft screen of narrow green foliage that adds filtered texture to garden spaces throughout the year.
Originating from Asian bamboo lineage and selected in cultivation for distinctive cane coloration and ornamental presence, it reflects a long tradition of bamboo growing in East Asian landscapes. Persistent evergreen growth and architectural form provide year-round structure and privacy in sheltered plantings.
Works well in
Borders · Cottage Gardens · Bird Gardens
Companion plants
Bleeding hearts · Catmint · Heucheras · Lady's mantle · Hellebores · Hardy geraniums
Design tip
Foliage and form do most of the work here, so lean on texture and repetition rather than one flowering moment. It takes sun or light shade, which makes it useful along the changing light of a bed edge or a partly shaded border.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at the Bellevue Botanical Garden.
