arrow bamboo

[heartrnurse]

I have just planted some arrow bamboo today!  However its going to take 3 or 4 years before being able to harvest any for arrow shafts.  In the meantime does anyone know of any areas, here in southwest florida, that I can find any arrow bamboo to harvest for some shafts or even river cane? Any info would be appreciated!!

[Mike Vines]

Home Depot garden section.  They are marketed as stakes.

[heartrnurse]

Thanks Mike....gone that route already....guess I just need a reason to go shopping for them in the outdoors rather than in a store...LOL.

[Pat B]

I would think there is lots of bamboos growing in FLA. Almost any of them that look appropriate for arrows would make good arrows. If you harvest only mature culms(canes) for the arrows you will not hurt the colony. Most bamboos have a culm life cycle of 3 to 5 years, maturing after the second or third seasons. After the culm matures it dies and a new one takes its place. If you harvest only the mature culms you are actually removing the competition from the newer culms. Describing this to the owner might just get you all the arrow cane you will ever need.
  I hope you have properly contained your arrow boo because it will become quite invasive and very difficult to eradicate once it does.