How Do You Identify And Care For An Abyssinian Bamboo?
The Abyssinian bamboo (Oxytenanthera abyssinica) is a plant that is native to Ethiopia, but will grow in zones 9 to 11. There is no AHS Heat Zone defined for this plant. It belongs to the Poaceae family, and is edible. It is usually used for landscaping. Though you may think it is wood, it is actually a giant grass. Bamboo is the common term for many of these giant grasses. You can identify the Abyssinian bamboo by its bright green, zigzag-shaped culms. It is an evergreen, which means that this plant does not turn color or loose its foliage in the fall. It does spread, so make sure there is plenty of room for this bamboo. It can grow to 30 feet in height. Plant the Abyssinian bamboo in a sandy to clay loam mix with a pH of 6.5 to 8. It should be planted in part shade to full sun (i.e., the plant should have more than six hours of continuous sun per day.) It tolerates heat and humidity quite well. Fertilize young Abyssinian bamboos with a fertilizer that contains extra phosphorus to enc
