ANGEL MIST BAMBOO

CAUTION: Though not a serious caution... I would advise that you not rub off the white powder from newer culms, to retain the lovely "white" appearance. I planted mine a bit back from a pathway, so that kids wouldn't be so tempted to "mess with it."  

CRAFTS: This variety is occasionally used in light craftwork. [10]
CONSTRUCTION: It is used for light construction projects. [10] It is best to harvest poles during the winter dry season.
WINDBREAK: Yes, however, the leaves may shred somewhat in very high winds.
SHADE BAMBOO: The large, dense foliage that forms at the top half of the culms makes for an excellent shade bamboo.
PRIVACY HEDGE: Plant on ten foot center to create a beautiful privacy hedge. It does not, however, fill out fully at the bottom 15 feet, due to its lack of lower branches... so neighbors may see you sunbathing in the back yard anyway.
AVENUE PLANTING: Having no lower branches, and being so upright and tough, it is recommended for avenue planting. [4]
BIOCHAR: The dried mature culms of this species make a very nice quality biochar. 
LIVESTOCK FORAGE: Some people offer occasional feeding of the fresh leaves to goats and cattle.
SPECIMEN PLANT / ORNAMENTAL: Ornamental and quite beautiful. "The mature plant has no lower branches, thus making it a perfect specimen for a walkway or smaller urban garden." [2]
EDIBILITY OF SHOOTS QUESTIONABLE: Quindembo Bamboo in Hawaii, who is respect greatly, list this variety as having edible shoots. The fact that this is the only source that I can find stating this, makes me question just how edible they are. Let me know what you find out. 

NATIVE TO: Guangxi, Southern China. 
DESCRIPTION: Eye-catching & quite stunning.  A clumping, medium-sized tropical bamboo. It is quite small for a Dendrocalamus species. Rare, a relatively recent introduction. 
- RATE OF GROWTH: Very fast growing. I have seen three gallon potted plants reach 35 feet in three years.
- HEIGHT: To 30 to 40'. [2]
- SPACING: 6-10'. [2]
- SHOOTS: "Shoots emerge covered in a waxy powder that provides a beautiful blue look." [2]
- CULMS: Culms to 3.25 inch diameter.  Tight clumping & very erect/upright with arching tops.  Tidy. Very few or no lower branches when mature.  Young culms are misty blue due to a waxy, [white] powdery bloom, over lime-green culms with irregular dark green stripes when young.  Dark green irregular stripes & yellow striations on olive yellow highly polished-looking culms with age. CAUTION: You may want to avoid rubbing any of the whitish powder from the newer culms, if you want the culms to remain "white."
- LEAVES: Large, dark, shiny green leaves give it a tropical appearance. 
THIS VARIETY: Is a  natural variant.
CULTURE: 
- LIGHT: Full sun to light shade. Many websites list it as doing best under full sun conditions. Mine, in half shade, is doing extremely well.
- HARDINESS: This species is the smallest & one of the most cold tolerant Dendrocalamus bamboo.  USDA zones 9A or 9B-11, 20-24F.  Bamboo Plants Online rates it at 20F. NOTE: Dendrocalamus validus, a related, larger species, may very well be even more cold tolerant.
- WATER: It prefers to be consistently moist, yet is somewhat tolerant of droughts once established.  Some nurseries claim that it does not like to dry out too much between watering/rain. During a drought, if it starts to drop some leaves, give it a soaking.
- SOIL pH: Alkaline tolerant. It is quite tolerant of varying soil conditions. [6]  It likes to receive mulch.
- LONG TERM CARE: After establishment, it require very little care. It does, however, respond well to yearly mulching and some organic fertilizer now and then. Composted horse manure works wonders for bamboos.