Phyllostachys aurea
(golden bamboo)

Preferred Common Name

• golden bamboo

Other Scientific Names

• Phyllostachys bambusoides var. aurea (Carrière ex. Rivière & C.Rivière) Makino
• Phyllostachys breviligula W.T.Lin & Z.M.Wu
• Phyllostachys formosana Hayata
• Phyllostachys meyeri var. aurea (Carrière ex. Rivière & C.Rivière) Pilipenko
• Phyllostachys puberula var. flavescensinversa J. Houz.
• Phyllostachys reticulata var. aurea (Carrière ex. Rivière & C.Rivière) Makino
• Sinarundinaria reticulata var. aurea (Rivière & C.Rivière) Ohwi
• Sinoarundinaria formosa (Hayata) Ohwi ex Mayeb.

International Common Names

• English: fish-pole bamboo
• Spanish: bambú amarillo; bambucito
• French: bambou jaune
• Chinese: ren mian zhu
• Portuguese: bambu-japonês; bambu-mirim

Local Common Names

• Brazil: bambú japonsê; bambu-amarelo; bambu-brasileiro; bambu-mirim
• China: ren mian zhu
• Cuba: bambucito
• France: bamboo jaune
• Indonesia: pring uncue
• Japan: hotei-chiku
• Vietnam: trus vafng

EPPO code

• PLLAR (Phyllostachys aurea)

• Domain: Eukaryota
•     Kingdom: Plantae
•         Phylum: Spermatophyta
•             Subphylum: Angiospermae
•                 Class: Monocotyledonae
•                     Order: Cyperales
•                         Family: Poaceae
•                             Genus: Phyllostachys
•                                 Species: Phyllostachys aurea

The family Poaceae comprises about 707 genera and 11,337 species distributed worldwide (Stevens, 2017). The subfamily Bambusoideae includes 116 genera and 1441 species of both woody and herbaceous bamboos occurring in tropical to temperate regions of Asia, often in forests (Ohrnberger, 1999; Stevens, 2017). There are about 76 species within the genus Phyllostachys (Ohrnberger, 1999). The name “Phyllostachys” means "leaf spike" and refers to the inflorescences while the specific epithet “aurea” refers to the golden color of old culms and was used by Carrière and later by A.& C. Rivière to name this species (Ohrnberger, 1999).

P. aurea is a woody, rhizomatous perennial grass, which grows to form a dense bamboo forest. The main stem is called a culm. The culm is made up of jointed segments. The rings are called nodes. The sections between the nodes or rings are called internodes.

Golden bamboo has distinct swollen internodes, bunched up together at the bottom of some random canes. This unique trait is useful for certainty in the ID of golden bamboo (McClure, 1957). Most canes will have uniformly spaced sections (internodes) as the compressed internode trait only occurs on some canes. Golden bamboo has a slight cupped flare where the sections meet at the nodes (rings). In Japan, the compressed swollen internodes are referred to as deformed stems, and thought to be a reason for the cultivation of the species P. aurea, due to the curiosity of the deformed swollen internodes.

A pure planting of P. aurea can be identified with ease and certainty by the culms. Stems and branches are green when plants are young but turn golden yellow with age. Branches occur in uneven pairs with a groove called a sulcus (Arnold Arboretum, 1946; Gucker, 2009). They can grow to a maximum height of 11.8 m tall and are tolerant of colder temperatures (reportedly up to -20°C) (Arnold Arboretum, 1946; Young and Haun, 1961; Gucker, 2009; EDDMapS, 2016). The diameter of the culms can reach 15 cm but are usually 9 cm or less depending on the age of the stand. Each year the culms will emerge thicker (Gucker, 2009). The length of the rhizomes increases each successive year. In a mature stand the rhizomes may spread 4-7.6 m underground each year (Young and Haun, 1961). Spread is rapid in all directions by the interconnected dense underground rhizome system. A single golden bamboo clump can produce rhizomes spreading 9.3 miles in its lifetime (Gucker, 2009). Flowers and seeds are rarely produced (USDA-APHIS, 2012). 

The following description is from Flora of China (2017):

"Culms 5–12 m, 2–5 cm in diameter; internodes 15–30 cm, usually strongly shortened and commonly ventricose at basal nodes, distally inflated for several mm below node at mid-culm and basal nodes, initially white powdery, glabrous; wall 4–8 mm thick; nodal ridge as prominent as sheath scar or slightly more prominent; sheath scar initially fringed with white pubescence. Culm sheaths yellow-green or pale red-brown, becoming straw-colored, with variably sized brown spots, base edged with white pubescence; auricles and oral setae absent; ligule yellow-green, truncate or weakly convex at apex, very short, 1–2 mm, margin longer pale green ciliate; blade reflexed, green, with yellow margins, linear, flat or crinkled in upper sheaths. Leaves 2 or 3 per ultimate branch; sheath glabrous; auricles and oral setae absent or deciduous; ligule short; blade 6–12 × 1–1.8 cm, abaxially pilose especially near petiole."

Phyllostachys aurea was the first species of Phyllostachys to be successfully introduced into the USA. It was introduced to the southern United States before 1870 for ornamental purposes, and also used for erosion control and soil stabilization (Langeland et al., 2008). Earlier introductions of this species were made by private individuals, like George H. Todd in Montgomery, Alabama, who planted a 10 acre plot in 1882 (McClure, 1957). Mature culms were used for fishing poles and walking sticks (Young and Haun, 1961). In 1882 it was introduced in Alabama and since that time it has spread from Maryland to Florida, Louisiana to Arkansas and Oregon (Gucker, 2009).

Additional introductions into the USA occurred in 1914 by the United States Department of Agriculture with plants from the Centro Agricola at Bahia, Brazil obtained through V.A.Argolla Ferrao. These were under Plant Introduction No. 38919.

Some introductions into the USA were obtained from seeds from L’Hermitage, Mons, Belgium. These were from Jean Houzeau de Lehaie and were under Plant Introduction No. 55975. Plants were also obtained from the Royal Botanic Garden Kew, England, Plant Introduction No. 75153.

In many areas extensive infestations have been documented with rapid spread and reported as highly detrimental (EDDMapS, 2016). In Hawaii, it was first reported invading native plant communities in 1992, although it has been cultivated in the state for a long time prior (Gucker, 2009).

A clone covering one acre was documented as naturalizing on a steep hillside in Kailua, Oahu, Hawaii. The infestation originally planted as a single ornamental planting has now spread to invade an entire hillside (Gucker, 2009). The footprint of P. aurea is astonishing as the speed of invasion increases each successive year, with the stage of invasion increasing dramatically over time (Rickel, 2012).

Soil drainage

• free

Soil reaction

• acid
• alkaline
• neutral

Soil texture

• light
• medium

Natural Dispersal

Phyllostachys aurea can spread by seeds, and vegetatively via rhizomes and rhizome fragments. Cases of spread by water have been documented in Connecticut (Bugwood Presentations, 2014) and there is the potential for rhizome fragments to be washed downstream along riparian corridors (USDA-APHIS, 2012). Although spreading by seed is unlikely as flowers and seeds are rarely produced it cannot be ruled out completely (USDA-APHIS, 2012).

Accidental Introduction

Phyllostachys aurea quickly spreads outwards from deliberate garden plantings and pieces of rhizomes can also be dispersed in soil and dumped garden waste (Queensland Government, 2017). The spread of P. aurea along roadsides by plows moving rhizomes has been documented. Observation has shown loose rhizome fragments and rhizomes growing up along roadsides where plows could potentially transport the rhizome spreading the bamboo (USDA-APHIS, 2012). Improper disposal of the rhizomes is common, causing new bamboo infestations to start. Spread can occur from improper dumping of yard waste into natural areas (USDA-APHIS, 2012).

Intentional Introduction

Phyllostachys aurea has been widely introduced as an ornamental in both temperate and tropical areas of the world (Gucker, 2009). P. aurea has also been introduced for its use in making fishing poles, walking sticks, umbrella and fan handles and pipe stems (McClure, 1957). 

Phyllostachys aurea has a negative impact on property values. Numerous property appraisals have shown a reduced market value for a property that has the presence of Phyllostachys invasive running bamboo (Haussler, 2012; Brown, 2016).

Properties infested with Phyllostachys running bamboos often have a stigmatized market value and are very hard to sell (Sutton, 2016). Eradication is difficult and results in expensive bamboo abatement measures including the repeat use of pesticides.

A recent report of one bamboo eradication project at the historical Yorktown Battlefield in Virginia, USA is costing approximately $78,000 (Riddle, 2016).

Impact on Habitats

Phyllostachys aurea is highly detrimental to the environment and can alter entire native ecosystems. Once established it can rapidly form very dense thickets that displace native plant species and create dense shade that makes it difficult for seedlings of native species to survive. Once established, it can be very difficult to eradicate. It poses a threat to many natural areas, including parks and conservation land (USDA-APHIS, 2012; EDDMapS, 2016).

Impact on Biodiversity

Continual thick leaf litter within the stand of bamboo along with the dense shade in the bamboo stand inhibits the establishment of seeding and the growth of native species of plants. The formation of monocultures in forests and riparian corridors completely excludes other native vegetation and over time the bamboo will eventually form a dense forest (Young and Haun, 1961; USDA-APHIS, 2012; EDDMapS, 2016). It is also possible that P. aurea has allelopathic effects (USDA-APHIS, 2012).

Phyllostachys aurea is listed as invasive in Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Reunion, Brazil, Costa Rica, Cuba, USA, Mexico, Spain and France. It is listed as invasive in 273 counties in the USA, including the mid-Atlantic region of the USA, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Georgia. It is reported to be fully naturalizing in New Zealand, with infestations forming dense stands, and some invading national parks (USDA-APHIS, 2012). 

Phyllostachys aurea can have negative impacts on property, including damage to driveways and sidewalks (USDA-APHIS, 2012).

Many laws and regulations have been passed to protect property and stop the continual nuisance. This list is growing as people are becoming more aware of the invasiveness of running bamboo (Rickel, 2014).

Phyllostachys aurea infestations may pose a serious indirect risk to human health as blackbird and starling species often roost in Phyllostachys invasive bamboos and can serve as vectors for the human respiratory disease, Histoplasmosis (Glahn et al., 1994; Miller et al., 2013). The microscopic fungus, Histoplasmacapsulatum, is found where bird droppings accumulate within the bamboo. This fungus produces airborne fungal spores which when inhaled can cause the disease Histoplasmosis. The disease produces very few symptoms, but can have serious health effects (Lenhardt et al., 2004; Cleveland Clinic, 2016; University of Maryland Medical Center, 2016).

When the blackbirds roost repeatedly for several years the bamboo may become an indirect threat to humans. The soil becomes contaminated with the spores of the fungus that cause histoplasmosis in humans. Workers removing bamboo should wear a respirator, or dust masks and take precautions to avoid inhaling the spores (Flynt and Glahn, 1993; Glahn et al., 1994).

Several cases have been reported recently, including two in Arkansas, USA. Such cases often involve burning of bamboo, which had been previously used as a blackbird roost. In 2011, a bamboo bonfire affected 18 people, where 7 individuals were confirmed to have contracted the disease and 11 others were likely to have contracted the disease (Haselow et al., 2014). Another similar story saw two children infected and transferred to the Arkansas Children’s Hospital. It was later found that others who attended the same gathering were also ill with the same symptoms (Haselow et al., 2014). In 1980, another histoplasmosis case relating to bamboo was reported in Louisiana. Workers were clearing a large bamboo infestation that was heavily contaminated with blackbird faeces. All 6 workers became ill (Haselow et al., 2014).

• Proved invasive outside its native range
• Has a broad native range
• Abundant in its native range
• Highly adaptable to different environments
• Is a habitat generalist
• Pioneering in disturbed areas
• Tolerant of shade
• Has high reproductive potential
• Gregarious
• Reproduces asexually

• Damaged ecosystem services
• Ecosystem change/ habitat alteration
• Modification of hydrology
• Modification of nutrient regime
• Modification of successional patterns
• Monoculture formation
• Negatively impacts forestry
• Negatively impacts human health
• Negatively impacts livelihoods
• Threat to/ loss of endangered species
• Threat to/ loss of native species
• Negatively impacts animal/plant collections

• Allelopathic
• Competition - shading
• Competition (unspecified)
• Rapid growth
• Rooting

• Highly likely to be transported internationally deliberately
• Highly likely to be transported internationally illegally
• Difficult/costly to control