Plant in full sun (along coast) to light shade. Can handle some drought but looks better with moderate watering. Hardy to 10° F. Invasive if not controlled by some form of root barrier but is a good plant to hold slopes against erosion. It can periodically be mowed to rejuvenate the growth and appearance and can be kept to only a few inches tall by such treatment.

Pleioblastus pygmaeus is unknown in the wild but has long been cultivated in Asia and thought to be originally native to forests of central and southern Japan. The name for the genus comes from the Greek words 'pleios' meaning "more" and 'blastos' meaning "bud' in reference to the several buds that emerge at each stem node and the specific epithet means "small" or "dwarf" in reference to the plant size. It has also been listed in the past as Sasa pygmaea and Arundinaria pygmae or as it is currently listed in the Kew database, a non-variegated form of Pleioblastus variegatus. 

The information about Pleioblastus pygmaeus displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant.