Chris, that's it! Is bamboo related to polygonum or vice versa? There was a lot of mileage in those photos and mine has dusty pink/white colored flowers which match the type in the photos, reminding me of Chionanthus virginicus flowers. Are all of these plants related? Thanks a million...at long last I know what to call her....she really is a pretty thing. I should have known those leaves were not right for a bamboo.

 

Joanie Anderson

 

> Attached is a picture of the mystery bamboo. The typical 'circles'
> around the stem at various points (what are these properly called?)
> turn very dark as summer progresses and the flowers (can't remember
> when they appear) remind me of light pink macleaya blossoms. Any
> help would be most appreciated!

Hi Joanie!  It's been a while!  :)

I'm probably going to come across as crazy, but this plant reminds me
a lot of a Fallopia instead of a bamboo -- something like
Fallopia japonica (var.compacta).  These were also known
as Polygonum cuspidata once upon a time, but changed names
in the past fifteen years.

Is it possibly a Fallopia?  Google images turns up a few:

   http://bit.ly/ihFRUV

Chris