This is the most common species of Bamboo planted and present in southeast Pennsylvania in USDA Zone 6b, sold by a number of conventional nurseries. Actually, it is a monster. It grows rapidly to become a huge colony. A mature plant easily sends out thick underground shoots that can reach about 20 to 30 feet from the original clump or colony in spring. The shoots at the ends are actually edible. I've seen these bamboo shoots come up in various kinds of beds of other woody plants or flowers that are within 30 feet of the bamboo, very unwanted. It can spread in the wild by broken stems washed down waterways to root along shores. I am so glad that when the former owner of my present house saw lots of invading bamboo shoots coming up in the backyard in the 1990's from the neighbour behind, he and the neighbour both killed off the beginning colony with some effort. If these colonies are not pruned a lot like crazy, the colony becomes a horrible mess. They are especially bad under telephone wires. If one really wants an Asian bamboo, go for a Fargesia nitida that stays as a clump and not huge.

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