竹子大致可分為二大類，一類為runner「散生竹」，其地下莖細長橫走，竹稈較稀疏散生; 另一類為clumper「叢生竹」，其地下莖短縮，竹稈密集叢生。 Caution 注意：runner可到處跑，包括鄰居的院子裡; 巨大的clumper可推倒石牆。
我種了這兩類型的巨竹，下面第一圖顯示runner比clumper高, 生長勢相比較強。第二圖左3竹稈為runner, 右4為clumper, 竹根密集叢生。
(1) Phyllostachys vivax(烏哺雞竹, 風竹, 雅竹, Chinese timber bamboo) is a runner, 分佈於浙江，江蘇，福建，河南，山東等地, 可高達70’, 直徑5”。 幼竿有白粉無毛，老竿灰綠色至淡黃綠色，竹筍可食用。
(2) Bambusa Oldhamii(綠竹, giant timber bamboo）is a clumper, 原產於台灣，也分佈於中國南方, 在美國等地廣泛栽培，可高達60’, 直徑4”。 幼竿被白粉，粉退後呈綠色或暗綠色, 竹筍可食用。
在美國種香蕉冬季還是綠色的很不容易，我特地選了兩類型，耐寒的雲南和喜馬拉雅種。
(1) Musa Itinerans (阿寬蕉, Yunnan bamboo) 原產於雲南西南部, 生長於海拔3,000'至4,000'的地區，多在山谷低地，也分佈於緬甸北部、印度、以及泰國等地。 它是野生亞洲象的主要食物, 蕉內多子, 生長勢強，常自成群落, 可高達21’, 可推倒籬笆和石磚。它的名字Itinerans是指地下莖遠走離母株(long and extended rhizomes that produce suckers far from the mother plant, hence, the term traveling bananas)。
(2) Musa Sikkimensis (錫金蕉, 大吉嶺蕉) is found in Darjeeling and Sikkim Himalayan region in northern India at altitudes of 4,000' to 7,000' sometimes with light snow. 原產於錫金大和吉嶺喜馬拉雅山地區, 新葉有紫色斑條紋(下面第一圖), 生長勢較弱, 可高達18’。
即然修了後院，也準備種些可食用的植物，一年四季都可以吃。因為地方小，只能種些攀藤瓜果之類植物。
(1) Chayote( 合掌瓜, 佛手瓜), 原產於墨西哥。瓜清脆，含有豐富營養, 可煮食、烤食或生食。藤蔓生長迅速，有卷鬚。在台灣一般人食用的綠色‘龍鬚菜’ (圖四 online picture)是此種植物新生的嫩莖。下面是從我朋友的菜園綠色的合掌瓜。 Caution 注意：深綠色那種有硬刺難於處理，必須戴手套去削它。
(2) Vitis Emeryville Pink (葡萄) 是在Emerville市培養的，最適合本地的甜葡萄。我們在吐魯番吃到非常甜的葡萄，因為那地方很熱。我們冷的地方，現在也可以吃到，跟新疆姑娘一樣甜的葡萄。Found by the Bay in Emeryville, Emeryville Pink is the best grape for coastal gardening. Sweetening right up here in Bay Area’s fog zone, it bears an abundance of flavorful mid-size pink fruit with seeds so tiny, there’s no need to spit them out. Grows 6-8’ its first year & then takes off in year two, giving you plenty to harvest.
(3) Passiflora edulis Frederick (passion fruit, 百香果、西番蓮、熱情果) 原產於南美洲, 花瓣由中央深紫色往外漸變成白色；成熟的果實由綠色變成深紫色。果汁常被用作香料，加在其他果汁中。Lots of yummy tasting fruit for salads, sherbets or eating right out of hand & intricate, whimsical, 3.5” flowers will delight you from early summer thru fall. Evergreen & quick growing, ‘Frederick’ can easily reach 15’ high & wide but can be made smaller by cutting back to 1’ in winter. It's is one of the hardiest of the Passifloras, surviving winter wet & brief frosts (to 20 degrees F) with bravo, going semi-deciduous! Takes heat well, too!
(4)Passiflora mollissima (Banana Passionfruit, Curuba, 香蕉百香果、香蕉西番蓮) 原產於南美洲, 它會結出非常多大且明亮的黃色水果，成熟時非常甜蜜，會讓人吃不停嘴，粉紅色的花朵一年四季花開不斷，為蜜蜂及蝴蝶最喜愛的食物。Passiflora mollissima is ideal for areas with cool summers & mild winters. Quickly growing over 20’, it produces elongated yellow fruit almost year-round while attracting butterflies & hummingbirds galore! This evergreen Passiflora is gorgeous and tasty - with pendulous, pink blooms that glow seductively against dark foliage. An excellent choice for eating fresh or juicing!
Above the vitis (+2 pictures) and passiflora (+flower pictures) info are from Annie's Annuals and Perennials. The passion fruit pictures are from internet.
