Family: Poaceae
Gigantochloa lako, commonly known as Timor black bamboo, is a striking ornamental species admired for its glossy, jet-black culms and elegant, upright form. Native to Timor, this clumping bamboo adds dramatic contrast to tropical gardens and is often planted for its beauty, dense growth, and suitability as a living screen. Its stems mature from green to deep black, creating a bold visual feature that stands out in landscapes. Timor black bamboo prefers warm, humid climates and well-drained soils, making it well suited to many parts of Hawaiʻi where it is grown in cultivation.
Although popular for landscaping, G. lako should be planted thoughtfully. Like other clumping bamboos, it expands outward over time and can become difficult to manage if not given adequate space or proper root-containment practices. While not known to be naturalized in Hawaiʻi, it grows vigorously, and gardeners should take care to prevent unwanted spread. Choosing responsible planting locations and maintaining regular management helps ensure that this striking bamboo remains an asset to home gardens without posing a risk to surrounding natural areas.
High Risk Traits:
- History of repeated introductions via horticultural trade.
- Congeneric species are invasive
- Reproduces vegetatively via rhizomes and fragmentation.
- Intentionally dispersed by people.
- Seeds are wind-dispersed (if produced).
Low Risk Traits:
- Not naturalized anywhere outside its native range.
- No evidence of being a weed.
- No spines, thorns, or burrs.
- Not shade tolerant, limiting forest invasion.
- Not versatile, prefers specific soil pH.
- Rarely produces seeds.
- No persistent seed bank; seeds are short-lived.
- Seeds not adapted for animal dispersal (no flesh, hooks).
