Black Bamboo, White Bamboo, Blue Bamboo...
Other Bamboos
When people talk of Black Bamboo they are usually talking of Phyllostachys nigra, as described in this website. However the term is also used for other bamboos. These others are usually quite rare, and it is unlikely you will confuse them with 'ordinary' black bamboo in your local garden supply shop.
Other black bamboos:
Bambusa Lako - Timor Black. A clumping bamboo, with similar characteristics to Phyllostachys Nigra...but it does require tropical conditions to be successful. There are faint green stripes on the purple / black culms.
Gigantochloa Atroviolacea - Tropical Black unusual, clumping bamboo, with canes that go dark brown / black very quickly
Dendrocalamus Asper Betung Hitam - Unusual to find, and certainly not for a small garden, this bamboo can reach more than 30 metres in height, with canes more than 15cm across.
Other Colour Bamboos
Most of the following bamboos are not widely available. I have added them for interest, and because you might come across them elsewhere:
Blue Bamboos
Himalayacalamus Hookererianus (Drepanostachym falcatum) - The light blue culms change to more of a purple colour during the first winter
Drepanostachym Khasyanum - Khasia Bamboo. It is actually the white powder on the green culms that gives them a blue appearance at first
White Bamboos
Bambusa Chungii White Bamboo.The powder on the canes gives them the appearance of being white.
Otatea Glauca Mayan Silver. Quite a grey-white appearance, again because of the powder that covers the canes.
Photograph courtesy of Andy Barker,
Design Team, Sheffield City Council