Needmore Bamboo Co.
 
                       
         Phyllostachys Glauca - This family of bamboo is under appreciated by zone 6 gardeners and I believe that it will prove to have great hardiness.   The straight Glauca form has not done much thus far but the forms 'Yunzhu' and 'Notso' are showing great promise.
    The 'Yunzhu' form hit 18 feet in only its second year, the largest upsize I've seen; the following year though the culms were no taller.   If you like the blotchy look of Phyllostachys nigra 'Boryanus' try 'Yunzhu' instead as it develops the splotches faster and is significantly hardier. As a young plant the 'Yunzhu' seems solid to around zero with leaf burn shortly after, re-leafing to the tips after -5F in 2007.
  The rare form 'Notso' named because mature Glauca culms are heavy with blue powder in the spring whereas the 'Notso' form is 'not so' blue - in fact not blue at all. It may not be blue but it is extremely hardy, showing only minor leaf burn in the 2 years I've had it.   It emerged from the deep freeze of 2/2007 looking as good as any other Phyllostachys.   

   All 3 forms are very upright and should make excellent screening bamboos in zone 6, although other species will establish the screen faster the Glauca forms look very substantial & erect, good qualities for planting next to pathways.  My grove of 'Yunzhu' is in a spot that makes it tough for me to get a good photo, I'll keep trying!		  
                       
               
                       
               
                       
           
Glauca 'Notso'
          
                       
         
                       
               
                       
               
                       
           
Glauca 'Yunzhu'