Our own mature Moso groves are as impressive now many we’ve seen. Some of the most famous groves of Moso are in Anderson, SC and Avery Island, LA. I’ve traveled all over the southeast just to visit and walk some of the well known Moso groves. It’s the largest “cold hardy” bamboo and just has a look distinct from anything else. Moso is sort of the “Holy Grail” of bamboo. These giant ones were once used to wrap fish in Japan, they resemble large pieces of heavy paper, slick and shiny one side and covered with soft hairs on the other. On most species these fall to the ground as the canes grow. The dark coverings on the canes are called sheaths and are the protective coating for each section of cane as it grows. The canes have very thick walls and can be split and sawn into small boards. Moso grows in vast forest of bamboo in China and it used for many bamboo products including bamboo flooring. The large sheaths that surround each internode on a new cane is almost the size of a piece of paper and was used to wrap meat and produce in Japan in the past. These can be eaten and are the main source of bamboo shoots in China. When a large shoot comes up it heaves up the ground around it. This species shoots very early, usually in March. On a good year there will be hundreds of shoots although only about 50% will continue to grow after the first week or so. In the spring new shoots of Moso are fascinating to see. The ground is well mulched with bamboo leaves and the dense growth shades out any weeds. After 12 years my largest grove has multiple canes 6 inches or more in diameter. A small admission fee is required to see the footprint. This formation is housed in a small building on the right of the road. It is an unusually shaped crack in the lava and is held to be the footprint of a famous giant, Moso. Widely used in the production of flooring, textiles and building materials, Moso is arguably the most economically important bamboo species in the world. The Moso bamboo plant is considered, by Willis Orchard Company, to be one of the most hardy and easy to grow bamboo for the home gardener from Miami to New York City to Los Angeles. Canes are covered with a soft hairs and flare out near the base giving them a very distinct look. This geological formation is found along the north-west coast of Savaii. Moso is normally used as a production bamboo, being used for its excellent wood, but it also makes a beautiful landscape plant. The leaves are somewhat small and give the grove a “feathery” look. With canes up to 7 inches in diameter, walking through a grove of Moso is like being in a strange and beautiful forest. This is the largest of the cold hardy bamboos.
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