Krycek1984, I want to address a few points brought up in your post. First, there's really need for more personal attacks. There were enough of those already in this thread. While I sometimes disagree with iforgotitsonevermind, she certainly isn't generally ignorant, and even when she and I see things in almost totally opposite ways, I don't think she tries to be arrogant. Maybe she gets a little over excited, but don't well all. Iforgotitsonevermind's concern was not whether mimosa is currently considered an invasive pest in the area, but whether it had the potential to be in the near future. Your assurance that it "will not become an invasive species unless global warming goes crazy", falls short of convincing me. As I said above, I'm not convinced that it will ever become a problem, but your assertion, that it's not even close, doesn't convince me the other way, either, and seems to be based more on feeling than proof. Your question about who cares if you plant Bradford pears can have many answers including a number of invasive plant groups (which are concerned about their damage to the environment in many areas), neighbors (who worry about the trees falling over the property line onto their car, producing a foul smell, or making the neighborhood ugly when they fall apart at an early age), and those that want to share information they've learned from their mistakes or observations.

Hey JauntyJohn, I'm certain it's not ventricosa because of it's large leaves. I'm 99 percent certain it's wamin, but it could be Eutuldoides 'swollen internode'. I only think that because it's possible, but either way, you have a pretty bamboo, and the mother canes are still green (sign of good health).

I have 107 bamboos in my garden (ground and pots) Bambusa multiplex Alphonse Karr Bambusa ventricosa Bambusa vulgaris (semis) Bashania fargesii Barchystachium densiflorum Chimonobambusa tumidissinoda Chimonobambusa macrophylla f. Intermedia Chimonobambusa marmorea Chimonobambusa pachystachys Chimonobambusa quadrangularis Chimonobambusa quadrangularis Suow Chimonobambusa quadrangularis Tatejima Chusquea gigantea Fargesia denudata Fargesia dracocephala Fargesia fractiflexa Fargesia murielae Fargesia murielae Jumbo Fargesia murielae Lava Fargesia nitida Black Pearl Fargesia nitida Carwinion Fargesia nitida Great Wall Fargesia nymphenburg (from seeds) Fargesia jiuzhaigou 1 Fargesia jiuzaighou 2 Fargesia jiuzaighou 4 Fargesia jiuzaighou 9 Fargesia jiuzaighou Genf Fargesia robusta Campbell Fargesia jiuzaighou Red Panda Fargesia robusta Wolong Fargesia pingwu Fargesia scabrida Fargesia yulongshanensis Fargesia rufa fargesia nitida Gansu (semis 95-2 de Jos Van der Palen) Himalayacalamus hookerianus 'Himalaya Blue' Himalayacalamus falconeri 'Damarapa' Indocalamus tesselatus Otatea acuminata Aztecorum Phyllostachys acuta Phyllostachys arcana Luteosulcata Phyllostachys atrovaginata Phyllostachys aurea Phyllostachys aurea Holochrysa Phyllostachys aureosulcata Argus Phyllostachys aureosulcata Aureocaulis Phyllostachys aureosulcata f Alata Phyllostachys aureosulcata Harbin inversa Phyllostachys aureosulcata Harbin Phyllostachys aureosulcata Lama Temple Phyllostachys aureosulcata Spectabilis Phyllostachys bambusoides Shouzhou Phyllostachys bambusoides Albovariegata Phyllostachys bambusoides Castillonis Phyllostachys bambusoides Marliacea Phyllostachys bambusoides Tanakae Phyllostachys bambusoides Subvariegata Phyllostachys dulcis Phyllostachys Edulis Phyllostachys edulis Gracilis Phyllostachys elegans Phyllostachys glauca Phyllostachys glauca Yunzhu Phyllostachys heteroclada Phyllostachys incarnata Phyllostachys iridescens Phyllostachys kwangsiensis Phyllostachys lofushanensis Phyllostachys nigra Phyllostachys nigra Boryana Phyllostachys nigra Megurochiku Phyllostachys nigra Punctata Phyllostachys nigra Henonis Humilis Phyllostachys platyglossa Phyllostachys praecox Phyllostachys rubromarginata Phyllostachys shanghai 3 Phyllostachys Sulfurea Phyllostachys violascens Phyllostachys violascens Aureosulcata Phyllostachys viridiglaucescens Phyllostachys viridis Phyllostachys vivax (le vert) (Jantonqing cl�ne) Phyllostachys vivax Aureocaulis Phyllostachys vivax Huangwenzhu Phyllostachys vivax Huangwenzhu Inversa Pleioblastus viridistriatus Pleioblastus fortunei Pleioblastus chino Hisauchi Pleioblastus linearis Pleioblastus hindsii Pseudosasa japonica Pseudosasa japonica Tsutsumiana Sasa kurilensis Sasa kurilensis Shimofuri Sasa palmata Nebulosa Sasa veitchii Semiarundinaria fastuosa Semiarundinaria fastuosa viridis Semiarundinaria makinoi Semiarundinaria yashadake Kimmei Shibatea chinensis Shibatea kumasasa Shibatea nanpingensis Sinobambusa tootsik Sinobambusa yixingensis Thamnocalamus crassinodus Kew Beauty Dendrocalamus minor

I'd suggest that you look for some native plants to add to your garden. The Home Depot and Wal Mart have native plants (both stores are supplied by Hui Ku Maoli Ola native nursery in Waimanalo). These plants are usually not as easy to find as introduced plants, but there are several reasons for growing them. -They are native and many of them have been here for thousands or millions of years. -Plants such as coastal and dryland plants (much of the urban and suburban areas were once native dryland forests) will thrive under hot, dry, and nutrient poor soils. these plants. -They can make an attractive low maintenence landscape. -Some of these plants are found only in Hawai'i (90% of native Hawai'ian plants are found only in Hawai'i) -There are endangered species available for horticulture -Conservation: Save the imperiled Hawai'ian flora Of course there are many species that will thrive under different conditions. But the dryland and coastal species are best suited for lowland landscapes. Some plants Home Depot or Wal Mart may have that are good landscape plants (speaking from experience). These plants are plants that I find attractive, and easy to maintain: -pohuehue (Ipomoea pes-caprae)- non-climbing coastal groundcover, shiny leaves, few pests, pink morning glory flowers 5-7cm. -'ohai (Sesbania tomentosa, Ka'ena point variety)- Bluish pubescent(hairy)silvery compound leaves, aromatic(this is usually not noticed if you are "looking for" the aroma), red pea flowers, low growing (seldom exceeds 2 ft) sprawling srhub (up to 5' spread), endangered species, easy to grow from seed. -koki'oke'oke'o (Hibiscus arnottianus)- use as hedge, or specimen tree (with training), attain heights of 30 feet in wild, can be seen in commercial landscapes as 4' tall hedges, large fragrant white flowers. one native plant that has been quite "succesful" in landscapes. -mamaki (Pipturus albidus)- our garden houses a pleasent 12 foot tall tree of this species (less than two years ago this plant was in a 6" green pot, but has maintained its tree shape). Usually a large shrub but can be trained to a tree form by cutting lower branches. the host of an endemic butterfly, the Kamehameha butterfly. Few pests. leaves used in tea. inhabits mesic and wet forests -ko'oloa 'ula (Abutilon menziesii)- Small tree, large shrub, or small shrub, heart shaped furry leaves, small red flowers (ofter called red ilima), inhabits drylands, endangered species. There are many more species that can be used in landscapes and countless that can be experimented with (if you have patients). Other than the Home Depot and Wal Mart. Occaisional and Annual plant sales may carry uncommon natives. Private growers, such as myself, also distribute native Hawai'ian plants. Possible invasive species should not be used for horticulture. There have been far too many horticulture related introductions that have become threats to native ecosystems, invasive species are still common in landscapes today (its better to grow already naturalized plants than introduce newly naturalized plants). Its amazing that people spend money to buy these plants. When working for natural resource management we spend manpower and money just to get rid of them. Some of these species include: strawberry guava, lantana, melastomes, Wedelia, kahili/white/yellow ginger, and there are many more. Well despite this post being long. I hope it helps. Good luck! w/ aloha, Matt Here is a link that might be useful: Native Plant Pics (sorted by genre)