Thyrsostachys siamensis – Sweetshoot Monastery Bamboo

Description

A rare discovery in NE Thailand. This cultivar looks identical to the standard T.siamensis that grows throughout SE Asia.
What distinguishes it from all others is that the shoots are edible, and delicious, RAW. This is significant as most bamboo shoots must be boiled to remove bitterness – especially shoots of T.siamensis which are notoriously bitter. I was brought to the bamboo and a new shoot was kicked over and handed to me to try. Sure enough, no bitterness!
It was sent to USDA quarantine in September 2015 where it spent three years, finally being released in September 2018. This bamboo spent more time in quarantine that any other we’ve introduced. It was repeatedly tested for viruses and phytoplasmas until ultimately being determined to be clear of any pathogen.

We have planted this bamboo (2018) in our test field to let it develop.
It will take several years until we’re certain this bamboo will perform as we observed in Thailand.

Min USDA zone: 9b. Click to find your zone.