Phyllostachys violascens zygotic embryos served as explants in inducing somatic embryo and subsequent plant regeneration. Murashige and Skoog salts with 20 g·L^–1 glucose, 10 mg·L^–1 adenine sulfate, 0.5 g·L^–1 malt extract, 0.1 mg·L^–1 6-BA, 0.01 mg·L^–1 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid (picloram) and 10 g·L^–1 type A agar was selected as the basal medium for inducing somatic embryo. Early cotyledon embryos were used as explants for inducing compact callus formation in basal medium with increased picloram (0.1 mg·L^–1). This medium was the best for inducing embryogenic callus. Somatic embryogenesis reached 87.4% when embryogenic callus was transferred to the medium and supplemented with 0.001 mg·L^–1 thidiazuron and 0.3 mg·L^–1 abscisic acid for 4 weeks, then abscisic acid removed and 0.1 mg·L^–1 N-acetyl-aspartate added for 1 month. Small plantlets were finally observed when 6-BA was increased to 1 mg·L^–1 after 2 months in culture. Histological examination of somatic embryo illustrated large nuclei and dense cytoplasm cells, paired with globular proembryos.