Needmore Bamboo Co.
 
               
         Phyllostachys stimulosa - This bamboo is planted in pretty shabby conditions - extremely dry clay soil on a steep bank above the pond.  None the less it has quickly spread and seems to produce a large number of culms.  The new culms are very blue with a powdery coating, and this bamboo reminds me of Phyllostachys heteroclada 'Solidstem' with the blue culms, horizontal branches and shoot appearance/timing.
   My hardiness observations should be tempered until more time has passed but this bamboo held up as well as any other species in each of its 2 winters and it may be much hardier than the usual listing of 0F. The only thing that may keep it from being an 'A' list zone 6 screening species is the fact that it seems to not produce very many leaves and is very airy looking - tough to photograph. Planted as a large field division it is presently putting up culms around 12 - 15 feet tall in 2 years.