What does it look like?
Medium-sized, clump-forming perennial bamboo (<5 m tall) with extensive underground root systems, and round, dark green stems with a white band just below each ring (node) where branches attach to stems. Each branch has one to seven flat, green leaves (35-40mm wide x 250-300mm long), and hairless leaf sheaths - purplish above, that are longer than the distance between stem nodes. Flattened grass-like flower spikes (4-9 cm long) are purplish on the exposed side and can flower continuously for several years.
Spread is vegetative by growth of rhizome; viable seed is uncommon.
Why is it a problem?
Arrow bamboo forms very dense stands that spread outwards by rapid growth of the thick rhizomes and exclude all other plants. It’s likely to invade scrub, forest margins, riverbanks, roadsides, in or around plantations, urban areas, waste places.
Control methods
Physical control
Cut down near the ground and mulch leaves and stems. Dig out rhizomes and root mass and dispose of them at a refuse transfer station.
Herbicide control
- Cut down near the ground and mulch stems and leaves. Allow to resprout (around 1m high growth) and spray the new growth with amitrole (333ml/L + penetrant) or 520g/L haloxyfop-P-methyl (150ml/10L + penetrant) before the regrowth reaches 60 cm tall. Usually, 4-5 applications following resprouting are required before it stops resprouting.
- Plant the site with local, native plants to produce shade, but wait six months from last herbicide application.
- CAUTION: When using any herbicide or pesticide, PLEASE READ THE LABEL THOROUGHLY to ensure that all instructions and safety requirements are followed.
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