Phyllostachys aur. ‘Lama Temple’

Phyllostachys aureocaulis ‘Lama Temple’, is a decorative bamboo, native to China, grown for its sulphur-yellow canes. The side of the culms facing the sun will shade a beautiful red color for a few months a year. Named after Beijing’s most famous Tibetan Buddhist temple, Yonghe Lama Temple, constructed in 1694.

Size:

  • Height: Typically 12–18 feet tall

  • Spread: Forms a tight, dense clump — 3 to 6 feet wide over time

  • Growth Rate: Moderate to fast for a clumping bamboo

  • Form: Upright and columnar compared to other Fargesias — more vertical than "fountain-shaped" varieties like Fargesia rufa

Light Requirements:

  • Part Sun to Part Shade:

    • Tolerates more sun than many other Fargesias — one of the few clumping bamboos that handles more light!

    • Prefers some afternoon shade in hotter regions to prevent leaf curl or scorching

Growth Habit:

  • Culms (canes):

    • Young culms emerge green, aging to yellow-green or light tan

    • Noted for very prominent white culm sheaths, which create a striking "checkered" look on new shoots

  • Leaves:

    • Medium-sized, lush green

    • Stay evergreen in mild climates

Why Choose Lama Temple?

  • More Sun Tolerant: Handles more sunlight than most clumping bamboos

  • Striking New Growth: Bright white sheaths and upright habit make it highly ornamental

  • Non-Invasive: True clumper — no need to worry about aggressive spreading

  • Privacy screens and hedges (grows fast and dense)

  • Hardy to USDA Zone 6 (down to about -10°F / -23°C)

  • Very cold-hardy among clumping bamboos