If you have ever considered growing bamboo in the temperate regions then you should select your plants with care and paying good attention to both the cold tolerance and eventual size of the plants you choose. Prehaps the best behaved group and the most cold tolerant are the Phyllostachys bamboos.

There is an amazing selection available including some stunning coloured canes and and culm sheaths and foilage that range from bronze greed to light Jade in colour. I am pleased to reccomend what I consider the following bamboos as six of the very best to grace your garden.

Phyllostachys is a genus of bamboo from NorthLowlands of China. Some are extremely tough cookies and very exposure tolerant. This genus offers some of the best ornamental bamboos that are truly hardy in the United Kingdom. In their native warmer regions of China their root system which is intermediate can wander, however in the cooler more temperate zones of the UK, apart from one or two exceptions they are remarkably well behaved and reliably clump forming with slow lateral spread.

Most are quite easy to grow with only an annual hair cut and brush out to worry about. A good organic mulching and an annual feed is always appreciated. Remember to let fallen leaves compost down around the plant to replace valuable silica. Most Phyllostachys prefer full sun but some will tolerate light or dappled shade, apart from that they are not particular about the soil they are in but preferring heavier richer soils that can be kept evenly moist but not waterlogged. Once the plants are established they are fairly drought tolerant however they need to be kept watered until they have a proper foothold.

On the whole mostly pest free. Maybe an occasional attack of Aphids Mealy bugs Vine weevil or the dreaded mite. If you don’t mind chemicals spray with a propriety insecticide or alternatively use one of the organic sprays now available. If mites are the problem cut down the canes and burn them along with any fallen leaves and spray the surrounding area with miticide.

Phyllostachys bambusoides lacrimadeae. The Goddess Tears The Goddess Tears Bamboo. New from China comes an unusual ornamental form of this wonderful species which can be stunning. It has a similar vigour and stature. Black-purple markings on mature canes make this different from all others. It has been greatly underestimated since its introduction and there are very few of these around as yet, but that wont be the case for long. An admirable plant for a specimen.

Phyllostachys Rivalis Phyllostachys Rivalis. Vary Rare. Similar in form to Bissetii however extreamly rare. I do not know of any other sources in the UK other than The Pot and Grass Company. According to Ohrnberge the authority: 4 meters in height 1.5 2.0 cm in diameter. Originally from Guangdong, Nanxiong, and Fujan province. It grows mainly along the banks of mountain streams. This species was introduced into Britain possibly as a single plant from China which soon seeded and died. A single seedling derived from this plant and is grown in Germany. The Pot and Grass Company Rivalis has been independently reintroduced from China in 2006.

Phyllostachys vivax. Huangwenzhu Inversa This is a fairly recent introduction and reported to be wonderfully reliable. Green canes with a thick yellow stripe or stripes. Occasionally if you are lucky you will get a reversion on some of the culms. When this happens these culms revert back to the golden Aureocaulis and they will produce both coloured canes side by side. Two for the price of one, that cant be bad. Tidy with upright habit and sparse in leaf showing the canes of to good effect. It can tolerate some shade.

Phyllostachys nigra. Hei zhu. The Black Bamboo the famous black bamboo is unique. It is the only bamboo to produce truly black culms which contrast beautifully with the short bottle green leaves. This a slowish grower and although the height in its native China can reach as much as 14 meters, it rarely makes the 5 meter mark in temperate climate like the UK. However this really is a stunner of a bamboo and justly deserves all the praise it gets. The culms emerge pink/cinnamon then turning green and then ripen off over the next twelve months to a gorgeous shiny Japanned black. Looks wonderful in an oriental style garden or breathtaking as a specimen on its own.

Chimonobambusa tumidissinoda. The Walking Stick Bamboo. A very leafy bamboo which is a relatively small in stature and that enjoys light shade. This wonderful and still rare bamboo was only brought out of China for the first time in 1987. Used for centuries to make walking sticks by the Yi people in Szechwan this bamboo remained a closely kept secret. This particular Chimonobambusa is gorgeous, large saucer shaped nodes and dainty leaves call for a solitary position to show off this beauty. Keep in a sheltered spot for best performance. It can spread so in a small garden best confined to pots and planters.

Himalayacalamus hookerianus Moonraker; The famous Blue Bamboo. One of the most beautiful bamboos. It hails from the lower slopes of the Himalayas and Bhutan. The culms on emergence are blue with a hint of claret or purple, ageing to a pale barley gold. Best in a cool shaded position away from winds.

Enjoy your bamboo and your garden.

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There are several types of exotic flowers to best suit any occasion. And of course, depending on your personal taste, you will want to choose the best exotic flowers you can obtain to be the perfect flowers, the most adequate for the purpose they will be serving. For example: at someones funeral, you may want to choose bouquet of flowers that the deceased would have loved. Here are some other examples (after all, these flowers are for happy occasions as well as the more tragic ones.

Musas:

The Chinese Musa flower is a stunning example of the kinds of exotic flowers that are perfect for gardens or bouquets.

Calatheas:

The exotic flower called the Genus Calathea is in the Marantaceae family of plowers, however it differs from other genera. The Marantaceae family of exotic flowers, in which Maranta and Ctenanthe are included, are unbranched inflorescences cone-like clusters.

The calathea comes from tropical South America, Calathea, it has about three hundred different species. These flowers love the shade and humidity, they are virtually all grown in much of the world only indoors. These flowers require full shade from the sun. However, if they must, they can handle a small amount of morning sun. These exotic flowers need their soil to be moist but well-drained soil, the use of a fertilizer is recommended.

When, on the rare occasion that these exotic flowers are grown outsideyou must be sure that they are healthy, they must be free from all pests and diseases. Some of calathea will die midwinter, but will return again midsummer.

Cymbidiums:

Cymbidiums contain approximately forty-four species they are found in the tropics of the old world. The elegant, large flowered types of cymbidiums come from the higher regions of the Himalayas, and they must be kept in cool conditions in order to bloom well.

Dendrobiums:

Dendrobiums actually have about one thousand different species in their enormous family, they have countess hybrids as well. However, there are many varied growing conditions for this type of exotic flower. It is recommended that one establish from where in the world, and at what altitude their plant is accustom to, in order to determine how to best take care of the plant.

Miltonias:

Miltonias are referred to as the Pansy Orchid sometimes. There are approximately ten different kinds of species, and miltonias are found primarily in Brazil, therefore they are warm-weather flowers, and there are many hybrids with wonderful fragrance, because the militona is such a fragrant flower to begin with. These flowers will add a wonderful sensory ambiance to their surroundings, because in addition to their scent they are extremely pleasing to the eye.

Odontoglossums:

Odontoglossums also have a wide range of species, approximately 0ne hundred and seventy-five. These exotic flowers originated in the mountains of South America, as well as in higher altitudes and are used to wet clouded forests. Thus these wonderful flowers must be tended to under cool conditions, many hybrids exist as well, so there are many types to choose from.

Oncidiums:

These are among the most popular exotic flowers and there are approximately six hundred different species in existence. They come from the tropics of the Americas, and few of them even grow in high altitudes, these also must be supervised under cooler conditions. Fortunately, the hybrids are more tolerant than the species, you will find that this is true for most plants.

Paphiopedilums:

Paphiopedilums, the root word being Paphiniawho was the greek Goddess that the Romans later named Venus. Around sixty species exist, coming from Asia India and New Guinea. There are species with mottled leaved which need to be kept in warm conditions. And the paphiopedilums that are plain leaved and single flowered require intermediate/cool conditions, and plain leaved multiflowered species have to have warm environments to survive.

Phalaenopsis:

Phalaenopsis, or the exotic flower that is often called the Moth Orchid comes from Java and the South Seas, the Phillipines and Queensland Australia. Therefore, they are definitely warm weather growers, and they do prefer to be in the shade. Phalaenopsis would make the perfect houseplant, they are very free flowering and also make great gifts.

Vandas:

Vandas have approximately fifty species. Several hybrids have been derived from the tropics, Asia, and the orientas far down as Australia. These hybrids require a warm environment that includes plenty of bright light. Many people hang them in their homes or gardens from wooden baskets.

Water Gardening:

Water Lilies and Lotuses are a beautiful touch to your pond, or waterfall etc. Major cultivars of water lilies and lotusesalmost all of which are hybridizersexplore the best landscapes in which to grow these exotic flowers.

Nymphaea and Nelumbo:

The genera Nymphaea and Nelumbo are beautiful species of exotic flowers, other genera in the waterlily family include Nuphar, Victoria, Euryale, Barclaya

Draecena:

Draecena (otherwise known as the dragons tree) is an exotic flower that neither requires regular watering, nor does it need much light at all. Its a symbol of power and prosperity. These flowers may live up to one thousand years. A perfect gift for yourself or a friend or family member who does not have that much time for gardening, but would love to have a beautiful garden, however small, and something elegant and exotic to pass on for generations to come.

Anyone can add a striking touch of color to their home, or even the office with the elegant of wild exotic flowers. Exotic plants and flowers add a beautiful touch to any garden, home, patio or yard, as well as weddings, celebrations, banquets, and more solemn occasions.

5Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for websites on gardening, parenting, fashion, and home decor. Her background includes teaching and gardening. For more of her articles on gardening please visit Exotic Flowers.Exotic Plants and Flowers.