Mexican weeping bamboo
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| Otatea acuminata (Munro) C.E.Calderón & Soderstr. |
The Mexican weeping bamboo Otatea acuminata aztecorum is a clumping bamboo found in Mexico and Central America. It produces thick stands of long narrow leaves. The weight of the leaves cause the long thin clums to bend, or weep.
The Mexican Weeping Bamboo is often used in ornamental gardens which receive partial or full sun. It is somewhat drought tolerant, but benefits from occasional watering and feeding. Allow the soil to dry out between watering. Mexican Weeping Bamboo is easily grown in pots to around 6 feet tall, but may achieve 15 feet or more if planted in the ground and regularly fed and watered. Mexican Weeping Bamboo is easy to propagate by dividing the root ball with a sharp spade. A particularly delicate look can be achieved by thinning the culms so that they are spaced a foot or more apart. This allows dappled light to pass through the Mexican Weeping Bamboo, and the plant will sway gracefully in a gentle breeze. It is a fast growing clumping bamboo which can spread several feet in each direction yearly. It is well suited to the climate and soil in Southern California, and can be successfully grown and propagated with minimal effort.
There are several subspecies and varieties:
- ssp. acuminata
- ssp. aztecorum - the most commonly culivated
- 'Dwarf'
- 'Mayan Silver'
- 'Michoacan'
