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Phenological gaps exert a significant influence on the growth of dwarf bamboos. However, how dwarf bamboos respond to and exploit these phenological gaps remain enigmatic. The light environment, soil nutrients, leaf morphology, maximum photosynthetic rate, foliage dynamics, and branching characteristics of <i>Sasa kurilensis</i> were examined under the canopies of <i>Fagus crenata</i> and <i>Magnolia obovata</i>. The goal was to elucidate the adaptive responses of <i>S. kurilensis</i> to phenological gaps in the forest understory. The findings suggest that phenological gaps under an <i>M. obovata</i> canopy augment the available biomass of <i>S. kurilensis</i>, enhancing leaf area, leaf thickness, and carbon content per unit area. However, these gaps do not appreciably influence the maximum photosynthetic rate, total leaf number, leaf lifespan, branch number, and average branch length. These findings underscore the significant impact of annually recurring phenological gaps on various aspects of <i>S. kurilensis</i> growth, such as its aboveground biomass, leaf morphology, and leaf biochemical characteristics. It appears that leaf morphology is a pivotal trait in the response of <i>S. kurilensis</i> to phenological gaps. Given the potential ubiquity of the influence of phenological gaps on dwarf bamboos across most deciduous broadleaf forests, this canopy phenomenon should not be overlooked.