Plant Profile: Shibataea kumasasa

Names

Ruscus Bamboo, Ruscus-leaf Bamboo, Zig-Zag Bamboo

  • Photo of Shibataea kumasasa (Shibataea kumasasas)

Phonetic Spelling:she-bat-ee-a koo-muh-SAS-uh

Genus:Shibataea

Species:kumasasa

Family:Poaceae

This is a small, slow-growing bamboo that spreads low to the ground and features a unique zig-zag pattern in its leaf arrangement. It thrives in conditions ranging from light to deep shade and prefers well-drained soil, although it can also adapt to clay soils with proper drainage or sandy soils with sufficient watering. Once it is established, this bamboo is resilient to drought. Its evergreen foliage ensures vibrant color throughout the year in a shaded garden.

Quick Identification

Shibataea kumasasa Feature Summary

Shibataea kumasasa Image Gallery

Tags

#evergreen
#slow growing
#shade tolerant
#bamboo
#hedges
#borders
#clumping
#fantz
#compact habit

Similar Plants

Shibataea kumasasa is often confused with:

Shibataea kumasasa Feature Summary

Leaves
Tear-drop shaped arranged in a zig-zag pattern up the stem hence the common name. Leaves are lanceolate, short and broad, glabrous, dark green, often withering at apex, 1-inch wide x 2-4 inches long; persistent, white, dried-out leaf sheaths.
Lanceolate
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
Stem
Reddish-brown stems
Brown/Copper
Red/Burgundy
Whole Plant Traits
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Erect
Spreading
Clumping
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Acid (<6.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
3 feet-6 feet
12-24 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Landscape

Shibataea kumasasa Attributes

Shibataea kumasasa: Country Or Region Of Origin

SE. China, W. Japan

Shibataea kumasasa: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)

Bamboo mites

Shibataea kumasasa Leaves

Shibataea kumasasa: Leaf Description

Tear-drop shaped arranged in a zig-zag pattern up the stem hence the common name. Leaves are lanceolate, short and broad, glabrous, dark green, often withering at apex, 1-inch wide x 2-4 inches long; persistent, white, dried-out leaf sheaths.

Shibataea kumasasa: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Shibataea kumasasa: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Shibataea kumasasa: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Shibataea kumasasa: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Shibataea kumasasa: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Shibataea kumasasa: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Shibataea kumasasa: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Shibataea kumasasa: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Shibataea kumasasa: Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Shibataea kumasasa Stem

Shibataea kumasasa: Stem Description

Reddish-brown stems

Shibataea kumasasa: Stem Color

grass
Brown/Copper
grass
Red/Burgundy

Shibataea kumasasa: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Shibataea kumasasa Whole Plant Traits

Shibataea kumasasa: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Shibataea kumasasa: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Shibataea kumasasa: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Shibataea kumasasa: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Shibataea kumasasa: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Shibataea kumasasa: Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Shibataea kumasasa Cultural Conditions

Shibataea kumasasa: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Shibataea kumasasa: Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Shibataea kumasasa: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Shibataea kumasasa: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Shibataea kumasasa: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Shibataea kumasasa: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b
thermostat
9a
thermostat
9b

Shibataea kumasasa: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Shibataea kumasasa Landscape

Shibataea kumasasa: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Shibataea kumasasa: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Shibataea kumasasa: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Shibataea kumasasa: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland