Buddha's Belly Bamboo 'Kimmei' (Bambusa tuldoides): A Yellow-Sulcus Bamboo with Swollen Internodes

Buddha's Belly Bamboo 'Kimmei' is a cultivar of Bambusa tuldoides selected for its yellow culms with a green sulcus (groove) and the characteristic swollen internodes that give the species its common name.

Distinctive Form

This bamboo grows 20–30 feet tall. The culms are bright yellow with a contrasting green groove (sulcus) on alternate sides. Under stress (drought, crowding), the lower internodes become shortened and swollen, resembling a Buddha's belly. The leaves are medium-sized. It is a clumping bamboo but can spread moderately.

Warm Climate Bamboo

Bambusa tuldoides is subtropical, hardy to about 20°F (-7°C). It needs full sun to part shade, regular water, and fertile soil. 'Kimmei' (syn. Bambusa ventricosa var. kimmei) is grown for its ornamental culms and the curious swollen nodes. A conversation piece for frost-free gardens.