Plant Details

Pseudosasa japonica

Metake - Bamboo

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Pseudosasa japonica.

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Common names

20 names · 14 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Arrow Bamboo[1]
  • Metake - Bamboo
Other languages (13)
Dutch
  • Bamboe
  • Japanse bamboe[1]
French
  • Bambou flèche[1]
  • Bambou japonais[1]
  • Bambou Metake
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Bambou métaké[1]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Finnish
  • japaninnuolibambu[1]
German
  • Japanischer Pfeilbambus[1]
Italian
  • bambù giapponese[1]
Japanese
  • カワカムリダケ[1]
  • ヤダケ[1]
Korean
Lithuanian
  • japoninis šeivabambukis[1]
Russian
  • Псевдосаза японская[1]
Slovak
  • trsťovník japonský[1]
Swedish
  • japansk 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] Pseudosasa japonica — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

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

Source records
  • Arrow Bamboo — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 167508; Pseudosasa japonica.
  • ヤダケ — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 167508; Pseudosasa japonica.
  • Псевдосаза японская — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 167508; Pseudosasa japonica.
  • カワカムリダケ — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 167508; Pseudosasa japonica.
  • Japanse bamboe — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 167508; Pseudosasa japonica.
  • 矢竹 — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 167508; Pseudosasa japonica.
  • 이대 — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 167508; Pseudosasa japonica.
  • japansk bambu — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 167508; Pseudosasa japonica.
  • bambù giapponese — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 167508; Pseudosasa japonica.
  • japoninis šeivabambukis — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 167508; Pseudosasa japonica.
  • Bambou flèche — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 167508; Pseudosasa japonica.
  • Bambou métaké — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 167508; Pseudosasa japonica.
  • Bambou japonais — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 167508; Pseudosasa japonica.
  • Japanischer Pfeilbambus — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 167508; Pseudosasa japonica.
  • japaninnuolibambu — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 167508; Pseudosasa japonica.
  • 矢竹 — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 167508; Pseudosasa japonica.
  • trsťovník japonský — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 167508; Pseudosasa japonica.

General information

Scientific name: Pseudosasa japonica
Accepted name (Kew): Pseudosasa japonica (Siebold & Zucc. ex Steud.) Makino ex Nakai View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Poaceae

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

Sources [1]
Also known as: Metake - Bamboo
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Shrub
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 4.50 m
Spread: 3.00 m
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Evergreen

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 5-9
Soil moisture:
Moist, Wet
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Partial shade, Full sun, Shade

Uses

Edible parts:
Shoots, Seed
Edibility rating:
(2)
Medicinal rating:
(1)
Functions:
Hedge

Description

Young sprouts are harvested in late spring when they have grown to about 8-10 cm above the ground. Cut the stems off about 5 cm or more below ground level. These sprouts have a somewhat bitter taste. The seeds can be used as grains, but although they are produced in small quantities over several years, it is rarely practical to harvest them.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/09
Harvest ends: 31/03

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 386199; name ID 438384; Pseudosasa Makino ex Nakai. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1258744; name ID 438408; Pseudosasa japonica (Siebold & Zucc. ex Steud.) Makino ex Nakai.

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Pseudosasa japonica

    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 2635500, ID 78GY2: Pseudosasa japonica (Siebold & Zucc. ex Steud.) Makino ex Nakai (accepted).

    Source checked on .