Question
I was in a shop where I saw a beautiful display of about 10 stalks of bamboo about 18" high in a glass container with river rocks on the bottom.. They were erect with a short, solid green ovate type of leaf. The canes were marked with the typical ringed look of bamboo tho very pronounced.,  I'm pretty sure that they are not truly "bamboo".  The proprietor of the shop said it was "Lotus Bamboo."
I have had lots of success with my pseudo bamboo
which is probably Dracaena sanderiana cuttings.
I have had my plants in water on river rocks for several years and they are as beautiful as the day I bought them.  The tags on them said "bamboo" - but I doubt they are.  I would love to find the "Lotus" but the shop keeper said they were a gift to her and she had no idea where they came from.  Do you know of this species?


Answer
Hi Dianne,

"Lucky bamboo" and "Lotus bamboo" are made-up names used to entice people into buying. It is  marketing device and the names have no botanical significance.

From the photos I have seen of the Lotus bamboo, they are either hybrid varieties of Dracaena sanderiana or they are cuttings from a close relative, Dracaena 'Janet Craig' compacta.

In any case, they are certainly not true Bamboo nor are they related to the Lotus.

Provide the same care for the Lotus as you have for the Lucky.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]

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