An important species, widely found between 2,600m and 3,200m, often in association with hemlock. It is naturally restricted to wetter temperate mixed coniferous forest areas of central and eastern Bhutan, but is also cultivated. This species reaches large dimensions for the altitude at which it grows. It has culms up to 10m tall and up to 4.5cm in diameter, and leaves up to 25cm long. It is easily distinguished from the other frost-hardy bamboos by its large finely grooved culms which are a pale blue colour. Yushania pantlingii is similar, but has rough, rather than grooved culms, and long rhizomes so that it does not grow in clumps.  Similar  species  have  been  described 

from Tibet and Yunnan. Because of its level nodes,thin walls, and long internodes, this bamboo is easily split into strips and woven into mats for house roofing. It is also used for making fence sections. It is one of the most important minor forest products in central Bhutan, widely harvested throughout its range, and is often seen being dragged along the road in bundles, or being split and woven at the roadside. It is also planted around houses and villages in central Bhutan. Propagation of this species is only possible using the traditional technique, and long poles should be used to allow early growth of branches and leaves.