I wish I knew more about those Chusqueas, but I did hear that nigricians grows in peat boggy conditions.
Other than that there is the A.gigante 'tecta'(something like that), but it isn't the most ornamental.
I bet that there are a few bamboo's that we don't know that can take boggy conditions.
Maybe S.okiboi would like it. The bigger mine gets the more tempted I am to set it free.

Thanks. I have Arundinaria gigantea but it has not been vigorous. It did better at my place on Bainbridge where it got more heat. I bet S. yakashadkae (whatever) 'kimmei' would grow there.... another one I would be afraid to let loose though!

I'll certainly try a C. culeou out there as long as I have 200 seedlings of it.

A. gigantea "tecta" has rhizomes with air channels, making it more tolerant of wet soils. I saw it growing on the wet banks of the Chattahoochee River (Georgia). Don't know of any bamboos that can tolerate year round wet, but seasonal wetness like yours may be tolerable to "tecta" and to Phyllostachys atrovaginata (syn. congesta), which also has air channels.

I meant Phyllostachys heteroclada "purpurata", which has air channels -- not P. atrovaginata/congesta.

Has anyone seen any bamboo grow in marsh areas where such plants like cattail grow?

P. atrovaginata/congesta also has air channels. It also has extra thick clums for it's size which you might consider ornamental.

THAT must explain why I mentioned P. congesta/atrovaginata first... Some repressed part of my 'boo mind remembered it's a channeled species. :-)

If I remember correct, the P.violescens rhizome I dug up was hollow, and viable. I wonder if it's an oddity or there are lots that have air channels?

In Bamboo for Gardens - I think - Meredith breaks the Phyllostachys down into sub-groupings and one includes the Heteroclada group of water tolerant species. Bissetii is another for sure.

My understanding is that all forms of P. heteroclada and A. gigantea can tolerate quite wet soil, air channels or not.... but those with air channels can grow in creeks etc. I'm sure P. nidularia and P. congesta would be fine also, I was more looking for opinions as to which are the most attractive of the bunch. P. violascens hmm, it is such a fantastic plant and I have lots of starts of it so I may just have to try it! Who knows, maybe it will do fine.

Well it sounds like there aren't any other species I have completely overlooked.

From what I have read P. violenscens also has air channels, as do the american switchcanes. There is switchcane growing here on LI in swamps at various locations, and no I do not mean the "salt hay".

Sasa Palmatta loves water and has beautiful foliage (used a lot in floral arrangements). It is very aggressive

"Sasa Palmatta"

... will burn up and stall in full San Antonio summer sun.

LewisBamboo has this recommendation for erosion control:

http://lewisbamboo.com/tessinfo.html

Sasa palmata 'Nebulosa' has been known to take over large wetland areas of the Northwest.... that's why I'm cautious about planting it. Anyway... thanks for the thoughts all.

Sasa Palmata will severly burn when exposed to winter sun in zone 5/6.

Now that I'm home near my 'Meredith' I checked the secton I was referring to earlier and based on the species that are in the Heteroclada section of Phyllostachys, I would find Manii Decora to be the most attractive (well, Parvifolia if you can find it), followed closely by Heteroclada Solidstem - a beautiful bamboo that produces a few 'Aurea' compressed node culms that are solid the first few feet, and Atrovaginata as suggested by others is indeed a very attractive bamboo. The others are Bissetii, Humilis, Incarnata, Stimulosa, Nidularia, and the 2 other Heteroclada cultivars.

Mannii has a gorgeous form, establishes quickly, is very drought hardy as well as wet tolerant. Parvifolia, I understand, has fuzzy culms, small leaves, short internodes, and is considered to resemble Moso. Mine is pretty small and I don't have a good idea of what it will end up looking like. I predict that as more zone 5/6 ers try Heteroclada Solidstem, it will gain in popularity as it is very attractive, hardy, and has a unique leaf structure.

Giant Reed bamboo is what you looking for - it grows like wild fire here in Louisiana. Listed is a link below where you can read about it.

Here is a link that might be useful: Giant Reed bamboo

That Giant Reed Stuff looks totally out of hand. Invasive AND it tends to promote fires?!? No matter how much I was looking for a particular type of plant, I wouldn't knowingly plant something to increase the possibility of a forest fire or prarie fire. If you have ever had property or family involved in a forest fire and felt it's effects, you'd understand.

kchedville,
I think Ian_WA wanted bamboo, not weeds. (not trying to be mean, just pointing out that A. Donax is NOT bamboo)

I planted Arundo donax in this spot and it died. In our climate, it is not as agressive, and only grows large in hot microclimates. Anyways, yes, I am thinking real bamboo.

Hoosier, thanks for your post. I'll try P. decora in this area; I wouldn't have guessed it might be wet tolerant. I must get a P. parvifolia. I have seen it at the bamboo garden in Portland, where Ned had it planted in a pretty wet spot (well when I visited, it was a wet week in a wet spring anyways). It did look like something in between moso and P. decora. I'll send you a pic of it if you want.... just drop me an email if interested.

Point well taken - I dont care for it myself. No offence taken rfgpitt.....I like the real Bamboo also. not the Marsh Cane stuff we have all down here in Louisiana.

There still should be some native real bamboo in Louisiana... the canebrake and switchcane (Arundinaria gigantea and A. gigantea "tecta.").

I like how that page says Giant Reed gets 8 meters tall. That's around 26 feet.

I just bought giant reed this year. So far its been instant gratification compared to the sleeping boo.

Ian, thanks for the offer but there is already a photo of Ned's Parvifolia posted on bamboopeople. According to his experience with it, mine may really take off next year.

I think the Incense bamboo shoots are some of the most interesting and beautiful

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I was toying with getting some incense. Wow! I never saw the shoots. That's it, I'm ordering some incense bamboo!

Phil, as were many of my species this year, the Atrovaginata shoots were an intense burgundy color - an environmental factor I assume.

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Very interesting and beautiful coloration for this species!