Moso Giant Bamboo Seeds, 20 Seeds

You get one packet of seed with the sowing instructions on the back. Compost, pot and accessories are not included.

• 20 moso giant bamboo seeds (Phyllostachys pubescens)
• Seed keeps for 2 years
• Germination usually after about 2 to 5 weeks
• Height: up to 30 m in China, 5 to 10 m in central Europe
• Older culms up to 18 cm in diameter
• Hardy down to -15 °C
• Needs light to germinate: cover the seeds only thinly

Soak the seeds in water at room temperature for 24 hours so they swell. Press them into moist seed compost and cover them only thinly, as the moso needs light to germinate. Cover the container with perforated clear film and air it for two hours every 2 to 3 days.

Keep the spot bright and warm at 25 to 30 °C, for example above a radiator, and the compost moist but not wet. Germination usually shows after about 2 to 5 weeks.

The moso loves temperatures above 20 °C, yet planted out it thrives in moderate temperatures too, and it prefers partial shade to full sun. In summer, stand the pot in a warm spot sheltered from wind, for example against a wall. Water generously and deeply, and do not feed it, so growth is not driven on further. Culms that get too tall can be cut back without trouble.

Planted out, the bamboo needs a rhizome barrier so it does not spread uncontrolled; in a pot the container does that job. In open ground, protect the root area with leaves or straw and water deeply once more before winter. In a pot it overwinters best in a bright, warm place with less water.

The moso comes from southern China, north of Guangzhou, and also grows in Korea and Japan. It reached Europe at the end of the 19th century. Its wood is often made into parquet, and the edible shoots are popular there.

Do not sow all 20 seeds at once: the seed keeps for 2 years, so you can start in two batches. If you are planning a screen, allow for the final height of 5 to 10 m and the rhizome barrier from the start. As a birthday or Christmas gift, or a small something to bring along, the packet suits anyone who enjoys something exotic in the garden.

How many seeds are in the packet? The packet contains 20 moso giant bamboo seeds.

When can I sow them? Raising the seeds indoors is possible all year round.

How tall does moso bamboo grow? In central Europe 5 to 10 m is realistic; in China it reaches 30 m.

Is the bamboo hardy? It is hardy down to -15 °C. Planted out, protect the root area with leaves or straw.

Are compost and a pot included? No, the packet holds the seed only. The sowing instructions are on the back.