The Bamboo Collection at Glynllifon Park
by David Saunders

Welsh Historic Gardens Trust - Summer, 1999

The park at Glynllifon was laid out in the 18th and 19th centuries by the Wynne family, and is now a Grade 1 listed garden. It encompasses gardens, woodland, a stream, water features, and follies. The park has been long neglected, but noticeable among the surviving feature' is the remains of a bamboo collection. To date there has been insufficient research to establish exactly when nor from whence the bamboos were introduced; but aspects of the collection do invite a degree of conjecture.

On the 5th September 1998' members of the Bamboo Society from across the country visited the park, where they identified eight species of bamboo in seven genera. This is fairly typical of an established collection that has suffered neglect since its original planting. Enquiries so far indicate that this collection was in a state of neglect in the early fifties. Canes were being cut for horticultural use; suggesting that the clumps of bamboo were by then mature and quite extensive.

Bamboos were first introduced to this country in 1827; but it was the development of the collection at Kew in 1891-92 that made them fashionable in gardens. The house at Glynllyfon was extended in 1890, and the possibility can be considered that the collection dates from around this time. A.B. Freeman Mitford in his book The Bamboo Garden, published in 1896, describes with one exception (Sasaella ramosa, introduced in 1892). all the species now at Glynllifon. He was growing these at Batsford; albeit under different names in most cases. Changing of botanical names is one of the hazards of horticulture; and is particularly prevalent among bamboos. It is noticeable also that in general bamboos have not acquired common names in Britain.

The collection was planted along the banks of the Afon Llifon, the stream that runs through the park. This places it a hundred metres or so to the right of the photograph of the house in the bulletin referred to. It is hard now to discern any original planting plan: because some species have spread widely. perhaps more than intended. and others may have died out. A degree of formality might be indicated by the length of low hedge formed on the north bank by Sasaella ramosa and Sasa veitchii; possibly also by the positioning of clumps of a very stately bamboo. .Semiarundinaria fastuosa, on each side of the two weirs within the area of the collection. .S. fastuosa has straight shiny green culms (canes) and dark green glossy leaves which can be 20cms or more long. Elsewhere the plantings were quite likely to have been informal. S.fastuosa also appears in small clumps intermixed with other bamboos here their lack of spread may well be due to competition and to the cool climate under the trees along the stream.

Some of the more rampant species have not suffered unduly from their neglect and indeed to a degree have derived some benefit. S.ramosa at the approach to the woodland walk on the south bank of the stream has spread to form an attractive understorey as in its native habitat in Japan. This and S.veitchii are rampant but quite low growing. and both have the additional characteristic of withered leaf margins giving from a distance the impression of variegation.

Further up the valley Sasa palmata f.nebulosa has also nourished; and indeed it has been found necessary to cut it back quite drastically where it has encroached upon the path. Its enormous leaves. arranged like the fingers on a hand are a striking sight. It is also rampant in the woods above the feature known as the mill where it is happy in the shade of the trees including the deep shade of various evergreens. Interestingly clumps of Pseudosasa japonica growing in the same area are dying out almost completely. P.japonica is the bamboo most commonly seen in gardens. Culms long dead and black with age indicate a height at one time approaching 5m: but now the remnants are barely 60cms high. It is perhaps significant though that here they are flowering. The flowering of bamboo has given rise to some misconceptions; in particular the belief that they will flower and die throughout the world at the same time. There is some truth in this, but not all species die, and the flowering can be spread over a number of years. Others are debilitated for a number of years after flowering. and P. japonica is one such. This has probably contributed to its decline as the woodland matured to overshadow it. whereas S. palmata J. nebulosa flourished in the increasing shade. In contrast, by the streamside P. japonica is growing to a degree of beauty not always apparent in more open situations, and it makes a fine sight across the water. Adequate moisture and humidity. and shelter from wind will have contributed to this. Some of the clumps arise out of mounds of old decayed culms 65 cms high, and this suggests considerable age. Some known twenty year old clumps elsewhere have no mounds at all. The stately S. fastuosa nearby also benefits from these conditions. with culms 2.5cms in diameter.

A problem will arise with the clumps of Fargesia nitida by the stone bridge. which are coming into flower. This beautiful bamboo is alas unlikely to survive here. Until recently it had never flowered in cultivation since its introduction in 1889. In recent years though flowering has been reported around the country. and it seems that it is one of the bamboos that does die subsequently. It may produce viable seed, and seedlings might survive on site: but this is unlikely if they are not protected. New plantings may be necessary if the species is to be guaranteed a presence in the grounds.

The only other problem is with the stand of Phyllostachys viridiglaucescens. A large area of this quite extensive stand has unfortunately been cut to the ground. Some bamboos can be treated in this stay. and are visually improved by such treatment annually: but not the Phyllostachys. Their new culms that arise annually arc energised by the existing culms. lf all the culms are cut down the resources of the root system are inadequate for proper regeneration. Hence the wispy nets growth now visible. The appearance of stands of Phvllostachys is improved by the judicious removal of old, weak, thin, and dead, or dying culms: but this should never exceed one third of the existing culms.

The remaining part of the stand has also sustained some damage. with some culms being broken. This is unfortunate as it is the only representative of the genus present, and an imposing area of the bamboo could have been created; with culms attaining a height perhaps of four or five metres. Such large stands of Phyllostachys are not common in this part of the country. Restoration will be a long process, but with proper cultivation techniques it would be possible in due course to re-establish this stand; although it would probably appreciate more sunlight.

Perhaps the one surprise at Glynllifon is the presence of Yushania anceps. This bamboo had a recent flowering in 1980-81, and is one of those that often dies subsequently. There are odd specimens of Y. anceps scattered among the other species. There is no evidence so far of more recent planting, so it seems most likely that here it has survived flowering. A. anceps certainly produces viable seed in this part of Wales. It is something of a weed in its natural habitat in the Himalayas, and is apparently becoming so in some Cornish gardens where bamboos have been long established.

In general terms however, the collection has survived very well over a long period of neglect. An advantage that it has over many other collections is that most of the species have been allowed plenty of space within which to develop. Some species have become intermixed, but given the amount of space available and the informality of their woodland setting this is no disadvantage. Although it contains no more than about 5% of the bamboo species that can be grown now in Britain it is an object lesson in the may in which bamboos can be displayed in a large garden or park. The writer has mapped the approximate position of all the specimens located so far.

A collection of hardy bamboos was a feature of gardens at the end of the last century. Since then the bamboo fell somewhat from favour, and although quite extensive lists were published in certain nurserymen's catalogues even in the 1950s, the majorities were out of stock. The Glynllifon collection is of considerable historic importance, and ever effort should be made to preserve it. There is now a revival of interest in bamboo. and even if there are no further additions to the collection some careful restoration and management would provide the park with an outstanding asset.

Glynllifon bamboo list
Bamboos can show considerable variation in size according to their environment. even within the British Isles. Here they are classified only loosely therefore as either small (approximately 1.5m). medium, tall. or very tall (approximately 7m).

Names in roman type are those in use in The RHS Plant Finder 1998-99. Names in italic type are those most likely to have been used at the time of planting.

Fargesia nitida
Arundinaria nitida

From Western China. Introduced in 1889. Tall. Hardy to-20°C. Forms tight clumps of thin arching purplish culms with masses of small dark green leaves. Seed was collected and sent to the Imperial Botanic Gardens at St. Petersburg in 1886, and some of these seeds were duly sent on to Kew. It had never been known to flower in Britain, but has recently begun to do so. Unfortunately subsequent death is almost certain.

Phyllostachys viridiglaucescens
Phyllostachys viridi-glaucescens

Native to China. Introduced to France in 1816. and then to UK. Very tall. Hardy to -20°C. Grows vigorously in Britain, with straight culms that can change to a dull yellow green with age; and glossy green leaves. The culms are often not upright but typical of the Phyllostachys is the sulcus or groove above each branch. Early Spring shoots are edible.

Pseudosasa japonica
Arundinaria japonica

Native to Japan and South Korea. Introduced to France in 1850. and to Britain a few years later. Tall. Hardy to -15°C. It has become the bamboo most commonly seen in our gardens. Culms straight. with papery culm-sheaths that are retained indefinitely. This can make the culms look rather scrufh. The large glossy green leaves though are very handsome, being up to some 30cm long. A vigorous species forming dense thickets. In its native habitat it grows on open moors as well as elsewhere hence its suitability for hedging and windbreaks; but it is seen at its best if given some shelter in woodland. It flowered in 1872-74, and several times since; including a prolonged period through the 1980s.

Sasa palmata f. nebulosa
(Freeman-Milford describes the related form S. palmata under the name Bambusa palmata.)

Japan. Medium. Hardy to-20°C. An invasive running bamboo. The culms are often coned at the base and have few branches. The leaves are very large. Dark irregular blotches appear on the culms as they age. Older culms tend to collapse sideways and impenetrable thickets are formed. which spread rapidly once established to the exclusion of other plant life. Leaves large. around 30cm long and 5-9cm wide. glossy green. Thev can wither at the edges in winter. Will tolerate dense shade. and will even grow up through Rhododendron ponticum. The related S. palmata has culms that remain green.

Sasa veitchii
Arundinaria veitchii

Japan. An invasive running bamboo. Small. Hardy to -22°C. Culms slender and often curved at the base, ageing to purple and having few branches. Forms dense thickets which spread rapidly once established to the exclusion of other plant life. The leaves are large around 25cm long and up to 6cm wide glossy green. They wither and become straw coloured at the edges in winter. giving an appearance similar to marginal variegation. Will tolerate dense shade and is very successful under trees.

Sasaella ramosa
Arundinaria vagans

Japan. Small. Hardy to-20°C. Introduced to Britain in 1892. Culms slender. The bright green leaves acquire a papery withered edge in winter. A very invasive running bamboo that tolerates deep shade. Will form a dense ground cover under trees. It can survive occasional mowing.

Semiarundinaria fastuosa
Bambusa fastuosa

Native to Japan. Introduced to France in 1892 by M. Marliac; and to Britain in 1895. Very tall. Hardy to -20°C. Culms up to 2.5cm in diameter. It flowered in 1935-6. 1957. and 1965-70. A handsome bamboo with stately upright growth. The culms are green at first. turning purplish later. Notable features upon close examination are the wine colouring of the insides of the culm-sheaths; and the groove or sulcus on the upper branches. more typical of the genus Phyllostachys. but absent on the lower parts of the culms.

Yushania anceps
Arundinaria anceps

N.W. Himalaya. Tall. Hardy to -20°C. A vigorous and invasive bamboo, with straight erect green culms that rise from the ground well spaced. The tips of the culms arch over as they mature. weighed down by masses of small fine leaves.

Further Information

THE BAMBOO SOCIETY.
Secretary: David Helliwel
43 Whitehouse Road.
Oxford.
OXI 4QJ
e-mail: djh@bodley.ox.ac.uk

BAMBOO INTERNET GROUP
bamboo@home.ease.lsoft.com