Protect from hot direct summer sun inland and from reflected heat along the coast when grown in full sun. Irrigate regularly to occasionally. Hardy to 0° F. A wonderful specimen plant for a container, in an Asian or tropical themed garden, or mixed with blade-leafed plants and grasses. This bamboo is particularly sensitive to salts and minerals in the air, water and soil, which results in leaf tip burn.

Phyllostachys nigra is native to Hunan Province of China and has been widely cultivated elsewhere. The name for the genus means "leaf spike" and is in reference to the inflorescences. The specific epithet is the Latin feminine form of niger, which is Latin for "black" in reference to this plant's dark black culms. It received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit in 1993. We grew this plant from 1988 until 2020. 

The information displayed on this page about Phyllostachys nigra is based on our research conducted about this plant from books in our nursery library as well as from information that is provided by reliable online resources. We also have included our own observations made about it as it grew in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers when we had them in our nursery field. We also include comments received from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information aiding others to better grow it.