Plant Details

Phyllostachys aurea

Golden Bamboo, Fishpole Bamboo

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Phyllostachys aurea.

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Common names

22 names · 17 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Fishpole Bamboo[1]
  • Golden Bamboo[1]
Other languages (16)
Dutch
  • Gouden bamboe[1]
French
  • Bambou doré[1]
Catalan
  • Bambú groc[1]
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 台湾人面竹[1]
  • 罗汉竹[1]
Chinese (Traditional)
German
  • Goldrohrbambus[1]
Hungarian
  • Sárga bambusz[1]
Indonesian
  • Pringgodani[1]
Italian
  • bambù dorato[1]
Japanese
  • ゴサンチク[1]
  • ホテイチク[1]
  • 布袋竹[1]
Polish
  • Fylostachys złocisty[1]
Portuguese
  • Bambú-dourado[1]
Russian
  • Золотой бамбук[1]
  • Листоколосник золотистый[1]
Slovak
  • pabambus zlatý[1]
Spanish
  • Bambú dorado[1]
Turkish
  • Sarı Bambu[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Phyllostachys aurea — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • fishpole bamboo — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 78563; Phyllostachys aurea.
  • golden bamboo — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 78563; Phyllostachys aurea.
  • Bambú dorado — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 78563; Phyllostachys aurea.
  • Bambú-dourado — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 78563; Phyllostachys aurea.
  • ホテイチク — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 78563; Phyllostachys aurea.
  • 布袋竹 — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 78563; Phyllostachys aurea.
  • 羅漢竹 — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 78563; Phyllostachys aurea.
  • Золотой бамбук — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 78563; Phyllostachys aurea.
  • Bambú groc — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 78563; Phyllostachys aurea.
  • ゴサンチク — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 78563; Phyllostachys aurea.
  • 罗汉竹 — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 78563; Phyllostachys aurea.
  • 台湾人面竹 — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 78563; Phyllostachys aurea.
  • Gouden bamboe — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 78563; Phyllostachys aurea.
  • bambù dorato — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 78563; Phyllostachys aurea.
  • Pringgodani — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 78563; Phyllostachys aurea.
  • Fylostachys złocisty — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 78563; Phyllostachys aurea.
  • bambou doré — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 78563; Phyllostachys aurea.
  • Sárga bambusz — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 78563; Phyllostachys aurea.
  • pabambus zlatý — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 78563; Phyllostachys aurea.
  • Листоколосник золотистый — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 78563; Phyllostachys aurea.
  • Sarı Bambu — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 78563; Phyllostachys aurea.
  • Goldrohrbambus — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 78563; Phyllostachys aurea.

General information

Scientific name: Phyllostachys aurea
Accepted name (Kew): Phyllostachys aurea (André) Rivière & C.Rivière View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Poaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Phyllostachys (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Golden Bamboo, Fishpole Bamboo
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Ground cover
Catalogue size class: Large
Height: 4.57–6.1 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 3.66–7.62 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Fast
Sources [3]
Foliage: Evergreen
Sources [3]
Growth habit: Erect

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]
Life cycle: Perennial
Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Occasionally Dry, Occasionally Wet

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand
Sources [3]
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Shoots, Stem, Seed
Edibility rating:
(5)
Medicinal rating:
(5)
Functions:
Wood, Paper

Description

Edible applications: Young shoots - cooked. They can also be eaten raw and have very little bitterness. They are said to be the sweetest of the genus. The shoots have a diameter of about 15 mm and are harvested in China when they are 2-5 cm in diameter. The shoots are harvested in the spring when they are about 8 cm above the ground, by cutting them about 5 cm below ground level. Seeds - raw or cooked. The seeds are only produced every few years, they can be eaten in all the ways rice is used and can also be ground into flour and used as a grain.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/10
Harvest ends: 28/02

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 405378; name ID 434043; Phyllostachys Siebold & Zucc.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1254417; name ID 434053; Phyllostachys aurea (André) Rivière & C.Rivière.

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Phyllostachys aurea

    Taxonomic data from WCVP, version 16.0, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. This shares the Kew WCVP evidence base cited on this page.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 2612286, ID 77FPB: Phyllostachys aurea (André) Rivière & C.Rivière (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Phyllostachys aurea — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 12 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .