Culms to 10 m, 4–6 cm in diam.; internodes to 25 cm, initially thinly white powdery, becoming glaucous, usually obscurely streaked and spotted with yellow or orange in age; wall ca. 5 mm thick; nodal ridge moderately elevated, more prominent than sheath scar. Culm sheaths yellow or milky-white, faintly tinged with green or distally pale purple-red, sometimes with purple veins, sparsely small spotted, margins dark brown, sparsely retrorsely strigose; auricles green or purple-green, ovate to falcate; oral setae well developed; ligule pale purple-brown, arcuate, ciliolate; blade reflexed, purple-green, with yellow-green margins, linear, crinkled. Leaves 2 or 3 per ultimate branch; auricles and oral setae deciduous; ligule obviously exserted; blade 9–14 × 1.5–2.5 cm, abaxially puberulent especially proximally. New shoots late Apr. 2n = 48*.

This species is commonly planted in Zhejiang for its very delicious shoots, which are reputed to be the best of all Phyllostachys species. The culms are used for handles of farm tools.

* Cultivated. Fujian, Jiangsu, Zhejiang.