Best Clumping Bamboo For Zone 7? The 57 New Answer

The best bamboo for cold temperatures

Bamboo is one of the fastest growing and most versatile plants in the world. However, if you’re considering a subtropical bamboo variety, it’s important that you choose a good, cold hardy bamboo and make sure you live in a climate where your plants can survive and thrive.

Determining your climate zone

One of the surest ways to ensure you are in the right area to grow your chosen bamboo variety is to determine your climate zone. In general, most subtropical bamboo varieties can grow well anywhere between zones 8 and 10. However, each bamboo variety is different and it is important that you check your bamboo’s preferred growing zones.

The best bamboo for cold temperatures

sea ​​breeze

Seabreeze bamboo, also known as Bambusa malingensis, is often chosen for its cold hardiness, being viable down to 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Seabreeze Bamboo is best known for its privacy protection and cold-resistant properties. Seabreeze Bamboo thrives in full sun to partial shade and is one of the most popular bamboo varieties for privacy due to its numerous side branches and high privacy height.

Huge wood

Giant Timber Bamboo (Bambusa Oldhamii) is another popular variety, both for its hardiness and privacy properties. Giant Timber Bamboo can survive temperatures up to 22 degrees Fahrenheit and can reach a maximum height of 55 feet. Known as the famous Timber bamboo used throughout Disney World, this bamboo variety is characterized by an attractive deep shade of green and straight culms with relatively short branches.

Tropical Blue

Tropical Blue Bamboo (Bambusa Chungi) is not only a great umbrella bamboo, but also an ideal bamboo showpiece. With a maximum height of 30 feet and the ability to endure temperatures as high as 21 degrees Fahrenheit, Tropical Blue Bamboo is best known for its wax-covered culms that appear to be a beautiful shade of blue, with new shoots bearing a white, powdery tinge have appearance. This bamboo is definitely one of the most popular and beautiful bamboos we have.

Graceful

Graceful bamboo (Bambusa Textilis Gracilis) features a delicate appearance and small footprint, which combined with this plant’s hardiness, which can survive down to 15 degrees Fahrenheit, makes it a wonderful addition to a variety of landscapes. Graceful Bamboo has a streamlined, compact look that is perfect for smaller spaces, yards and gardens. In addition, a 25-foot canvas can be easily created within a few years.

For help choosing the best cold hardy bamboo for your needs, call: 888-784-7336

Bamboo for sifting

Bamboo for sighting and protection

Bamboo is one of the most revered “woods” in Chinese culture and has been widely adopted by garden designers in the UK for designing contemporary and Japanese-style gardens. It has proven particularly useful in urban gardens where space is at a premium and the bonus is that bamboo creates a very elegant solution to so many privacy problems. In this post, we look at which bamboo is best for different shielding and hedging needs. We also have a small selection of Living Bamboo Screens which offer instant privacy and come as a ready to plant pack.

Bamboo or Bambuseae is an evergreen perennial and a member of the grass family. They grow fast, take up very little lateral space, yet can reach fabulous heights extremely quickly, making bamboo a very economical choice when you need a screen fast!

The toughness and hardiness of these plants is belied by their beautiful stems and delicately shaped, almost reed-like leaves. They provide a strong vertical line in the design of the garden and, as they gently sway in the breeze, create a relaxing and soothing mood. Here at Paramount Plants we have selected an extensive range of bamboo to meet the many different needs of modern garden design. See our full range of bamboo plants here…

Medium sized bamboo for hedging

Fargesia Murielae grows to a maximum height of 4m by a maximum width of 2.5m and is an extremely dense cultivar, a perfect bamboo for screening or as a hedge. Known as umbrella bamboo, this bamboo originated in China and tolerates sun and wind, but also grows well in partial shade, forming a dense, elegant hedge.

Fargesia Murielae has received the RHS Award of Garden Merit.

Fargesia Murielae Rufa is a beautiful elegant bamboo with light green stems and leaves and pale pink sheaths that grows very densely and grows to 2.5m tall and 1.5m wide. Upright and arching, this bamboo variety makes a lovely privacy screen and hedge.

Non-invasive, tall and narrow bamboo for screening

Fargesia Robusta Campbell, commonly known as Campbell’s bamboo, is also native to China. It is a vigorous growing bamboo, but not invasive. This is the perfect choice when you want a quick screening with a tight planting area. Campbell’s Bamboo is dense and upright, reaching a height of 4.5m with a width of only 1.5m. It has strong and sturdy green stems with light green leaves. Campbell’s Bamboo prefers full sun but can also tolerate partial shade.

Phyllostachys Aureosulcata, commonly known as Yellow Groove Bamboo – is another screening gem from China. This variety can be used in the shadier areas and our specimens grow to around 2.2m tall. The beautiful lemon-yellow stems of this variety become more pronounced when exposed to sunlight, they almost turn orange. The tall, lush, dense growth is perfect for screening purposes.

Phyllostachys Humilis or Scottish Bamboo

While this is one of the shortest Phyllostachys bamboos, it has shoots reaching to the ground with little or no clear stem. It also has lush evergreen foliage that grows thick and dense. Scottish bamboo is very tolerant of pruning. These properties make it an ideal bamboo for screening.

Phyllostachys Atrovaginata or Smoked Bamboo has thick green culms. It is a fast and vigorous upright grower and is very hardy. This is an excellent sight bamboo for those in a hurry and in exposed locations. It can reach heights of up to 8 meters in a few years.

Use a bamboo barrier on this bamboo to easily keep its growth in check.

Narihira bamboo (Latin name Semiarundinaria Fastuosa) is a very tall (up to 6 meters), slender and non-walking non-invasive bamboo. We have adult specimens in stock that are 4 meters tall. Once again, this bamboo is ideal for evergreen screening.

5 things you need to know about bamboo plants for privacy reasons

If you have been looking for a unique and appealing solution to your landscaping and privacy issues, then you may have heard that using bamboo plants for privacy is a great choice. Bamboo plants have many unique qualities that make them an excellent choice for privacy fencing and landscaping.

When it comes to using bamboo plants as privacy screens, there are 5 important things to know beforehand:

1. Local ordinances and guidelines

When it comes to constructing a privacy fence, there are many restrictions and ordinances in most locations that require permits and fees. However, there are very few places that have ordinances against using bamboo plants for privacy fencing. This means you can avoid the need for permits and simply grow an effective privacy fence.

2. Invasive and non-invasive bamboo

Bamboo can be divided into 2 groups: invasive and non-invasive. Also known as “walking bamboo,” invasive bamboo spreads quickly. Invasive bamboo is rarely used for privacy as it is very difficult to contain. In fact, shoots can originate several feet from the mother plant, and restricting their growth is a daunting task.

Non-invasive bamboo, also called “clumping bamboo,” grows in tightly shaped clumps up to 5 inches in diameter. Clumping bamboo is most commonly used for growing privacy fences and privacy screens because it is easy to maintain and mold into the desired size and shape.

3. Growth rate

Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants in the world, making it the number one choice for creating a natural green screen or privacy fence. While you can buy bamboo that’s already 10, 20, or even 30 feet tall, that can get expensive quickly. However, if you buy bamboo starter plants, you can grow your own privacy fence within 3-5 years.

4. Transplant & Nursing

Privacy bamboo plants are relatively easy to transplant and care for. As long as you ensure you are in a climate where bamboo can grow and survive and provide basic care, your bamboo plants will send out new shoots in their first year. For the most part, bamboo only needs good fertile soil, some slow release fertilizer, and plenty of water to reach its full potential.

One of bamboo’s most unique characteristics is that once it reaches the height you want, all you have to do is cut off the tips and it will never grow higher than that height again.

5. Which bamboo to use

Deciding which type of bamboo plants to use for privacy depends heavily on your needs. Seabreeze bamboo is a medium sized bamboo and by far the most popular bamboo for privacy fencing and screens. The reason Seabreeze makes such an effective privacy screen is because of the numerous side branches that provide one of the best privacy screens. However, depending on the size of your garden or landscaped area, Blue Chungii, Gracillis Graceful Bamboo and Oldhamii are also good choices for creating a privacy screen or fence.

There are two basic categories of bamboo plants commonly used in home interiors: running bamboo and clumping bamboo. You may have heard that bamboo should be avoided, and for most gardeners this is sound advice. Simply put, running bamboo spreads much further and faster than clumping bamboo, so it is considered an invasive plant. There are ways to curb running bamboo as well as clumping bamboo, which also spreads, but if running bamboo’s aggressive growth habit cannot be put to good use, it’s best to stick with one of the clumping species.

The rhizomes make the difference

All bamboos spread by rhizomes, stalk-like projections that run horizontally underground, with roots below and new shoots of plant sprouting above. Running bamboos are one-legged and have long rhizomes that quickly spread horizontally. Clumping bamboos are sympodial and have shorter rhizomes that stay closer to their point of origin and don’t spread as quickly. While clumping bamboos tend to grow outward from a central plant, running species quickly spread across a lawn or garden, popping up where you might not want them.

With this in mind, it’s easy to see why running bamboo is often classified as an invasive plant. It’s also easy to see why most people who are new to bamboo growing choose one of the clumping species.

Types of Clumping Bamboo

There are a few commonly grown types of clumping bamboo plants:

Fargesia ‘Rufa’

Fargesia nitida

Fargesia robusta

F. ‘Rufa’ Green Panda™ is popular because it stays relatively short (8 to 10 feet tall) and is cold hardy; It can be grown in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 9. Although relatively sun tolerant, it thrives best when given some afternoon shade, especially if you live on the southern end of the zone range.

F. nitida is equally hardy but taller (12 to 15 feet). F. robusta ‘Campbell’ also grows to 12 to 15 tall but is not as hardy; it can be grown in zones 7 through 9.

Types of running bamboo

The common running bamboo species tend to be larger and less hardy than the popular clumping species:

Phyllostachys nigra is a black bamboo that stands 20 to 35 feet tall and grows in zones 7 to 10.

Hibanobambusa tranquillans ‘Shiroshima’ is a variegated bamboo that reaches 16 feet; it grows in zones 7 through 9.

Phyllostachys bambusoides ‘Allgold’ grows in zones 7 through 10 and can reach a height of 35 feet. He boasts a yellow culm (the technical term for a bamboo stalk).

Despite the general warnings, some people choose to grow a walking bamboo. Their growth habit certainly makes them alluring to people looking for a living privacy fence. You might even accidentally grow running bamboo without knowing whether the bamboo you recently planted is a running or clumping type. In any case, the best way to curb the spread of running bamboo is to erect a bamboo barrier, a heavy plastic shield that you bury in the ground so it reaches about 30 inches into the ground and a few inches above the ground. The barrier prevents the rhizomes of the bamboo from spreading.

After around 10,000 or 20,000 years of cultivation, bamboo’s popularity may actually be at an all-time high. Of course, 10,000 years ago there were far fewer people to share gardening tips with. But it’s also true that more and more people today are recognizing bamboo for its utility, versatility, aesthetic beauty and all-round sense of good yo-yo.

Though revered for the same properties in the Far East for many thousands of years, it took a few extra centuries for this marvel to reach the West and spread like wildfire. Not unlike a few other things that come to mind. Yoga and sushi quickly come to mind.

As if browsing through the options of bamboo toothbrushes and bamboo towels wasn’t challenging enough, now consider that if you’re looking to plant a few varieties of bamboo in your garden, you have over a thousand species to choose from. Even the bamboo specialists do not agree on the actual number of bamboo varieties. But no need to split hairs about speciation.

Although there are nearly 1,500 known bamboo species and cultivars, even the best specialty nursery is unlikely to have more than a hundred options to choose from. But we want to help you narrow down the 10 best bamboo varieties for your garden.

Botanical name Common name Description Phyllostachys vivax Chinese woody bamboo Giant bamboo with yellow rods; up to 50′ tall and 4″ thick; Runner Semiarundinaria fastuosa Temple Bamboo Slender, elegant canes; dark green foliage; Stolon Phyllostachys nigra Black Bamboo Attractive, dark brown stems; 20-30′ tall and 1-2″ thick; Stolon Pseudosasa japonica Arrow Bamboo Long, straight stalks; about 15′ tall and 1″ thick; stolon Pleioblastus viridistriatus dwarf green stripe compact ornamental; maximum 2-3′ tall; Colleagues Bambusa oldhamii Oldham’s Very attractive woody bamboo; clumping Otatea acuminata Mexican Weeping Bamboo Slender stems and cascading leaves; up to 15′ tall; clumping Bambusa vulgaris Buddha’s belly Very unusual culm shapes; up to 40′ tall; clumping Bambusa multiplex Alphonse Karr Nicely striped, long straight tails; clumping Himalayacalamus hookerianus Himalayan Blue Attractive and exotic with powder blue culms; clumping

Two types of bamboo

Some people like to say that there are two types of bamboo: stolons and clumps. This is of course a blanket generalization, as there are actually around 1,400 species of bamboo. Not only that, but there are slow runners and open clumps and a number of other factors that could affect your bamboo’s growing habits. However, this still remains the easiest way to imagine bamboo.

RUNNING BAMBOO

Most ornamental bamboos are runners, meaning they send out rhizome roots that race underground in search of moisture and elbow room. If you want to plant a privacy hedge that will quickly spread along a fence line, or if you just enjoy watching a voracious plant exert its dominion over the landscape, then this is probably the way to go. They’re also usually the easiest to find, especially in non-specialist nurseries, as they propagate so easily.

But be careful and think before you plant. As the old saying goes about bamboo, “First year they sleep, second year they crawl, and third year they jump.” In other words, you might not think it’s a runner after the first year, but you will by the third Year or fourth you almost certainly will, and so will your neighbors.

Running bamboos have no respect for property lines. If the neighbor on one side is regularly watering her perfectly manicured lawn, or the neighbor on the other is constantly watering her award-winning rose bushes, it won’t be long (especially in a dry place like California) before the greedy rhizomes are there to munch on these delicious ones Sniffing out water sources and wreaking havoc on the roses, lawn, vegetable patch, herb garden and just about anything else in sight. There goes the neighborhood!

So how do you avoid this imminent disaster? Here are some options:

Allow plenty of room for your running bamboo to spread. If you’re gardening in a cramped suburban area, you probably don’t have a lot of space. If you’re trying to fill in an empty space and green it, that’s more likely to be the case.

spread. If you’re gardening in a cramped suburban area, you probably don’t have a lot of space. If you’re trying to fill in an empty space and green it, that’s more likely to be the case. Keep your bamboo well enclosed. There are a number of ways to do this, from a simple solution like planting in an old wine barrel (or half a barrel) to burying whatever rhizome barrier you like in the ground. Remember, with time and pressure, there’s almost nothing stopping these roots from spreading. So whatever you put in the ground, plant it thick and deep. (Check out our bamboo containment tips.)

. There are a number of ways to do this, from a simple solution like planting in an old wine barrel (or half a barrel) to burying whatever rhizome barrier you like in the ground. Remember, with time and pressure, there’s almost nothing stopping these roots from spreading. So whatever you put in the ground, plant it thick and deep. (See .) Perimeter ditches are a great way to prevent aggressive bamboo varieties from outgrowing your welcome.

are a great way to prevent aggressive bamboo varieties from outgrowing their welcome. Get your hands dirty and trim your bamboo regularly. This means not only cutting back the shoots, but also going underground and cutting off those strong roots.

your bamboo regularly. This means not only cutting back the shoots, but also going underground and cutting off those strong roots. Look for smaller and slower-moving bamboo species, like some of the groundcover varieties. But keep an eye on her. Sometimes they look sleepy on the surface, even while the roots build an invisible empire underground.

Bamboo, like some of the ground cover varieties. But keep an eye on her. Sometimes they look sleepy on the surface, even while the roots build an invisible empire underground. Find clumping bamboo and plant that instead. (See below.)

and plant these instead. (See below.) Also check out our recommended list of bamboo garden supplies.

The fact is that many of the most interesting and attractive bamboo species are runners. They are also usually cheaper and easier to find in nurseries. So now that you’ve been warned, here are a few great running bamboo strains to keep an eye out for.

You should definitely plan some extra space for this enormous woody bamboo, which easily reaches 20 to 50 feet in height and has culms up to 4 or 5 inches in diameter. As you can imagine, it’s also going to have a pretty massive footprint. But for anyone with the space, this majestic weed could be a prized specimen and the envy of bamboo lovers around the world.

I planted one of these in my suburban garden in San Luis Obispo and kept it in a 15 gallon pot for fear it might overwhelm the neighborhood. It never looked unhealthy after 5 or 6 years, but it certainly never reached the type of stature described above. It really needs space to spread out.

As I said before, storing your running bamboo in a pot or container can be a good idea. But that’s not the perfect solution. Eventually, when you place the pot on the ground, the roots will crawl through the drainage hole and into the soil. It is better to place the pots on a terrace or a large stepping stone in the garden.

And if you do manage to stem your running bamboo, be aware that it will never reach its full size. This is particularly the case with a wood bamboo. In ideal conditions, the Vivax plant is a sight to behold. But in a pot it will just kind of languish. So if you don’t have a lot of space, there isn’t much point in growing a barrelwood bamboo in a pot.

For best results, plant your Vivax in the ground but also surround it with a strong root barrier. Give it a wide berth, room to spread, at least 8 to 10 feet in diameter. Then bury your root barrier nice and deep. And check back regularly. Left unchecked, a running woody bamboo can breach most artificial boundaries.

Another very impressive strain whose majestic appearance has earned her the nickname “temple bamboo”. It’s a memorable name and MUCH easier to pronounce. Temple Bamboo Bamboo can grow 20 or 30 feet tall, but its colorful culms don’t grow much larger than about 1 inch in diameter.

I also planted one of these in a 15 gallon container but it didn’t take long for it to erupt and spread throughout the garden. Still, with shoots this beautiful, I just couldn’t bring myself to uproot them. This is truly a beautiful species of bamboo with its long, straight, elegant canes.

Even though my temple bamboo went into the ground, it never really seemed to get out of hand. After 5 or 6 years, the plant was still only about 5 feet in diameter and less than 10 feet tall. Perhaps it would have become more aggressive if we had lived in a warmer and rainier place.

Also, I have rarely fed this plant more than an annual portion of compost from our own garden. We had very sandy soil conditions, not that rich in nutrients. But the upside was how easily I could dig in the sand and prune the roots. I would do this regularly because people often admired the beauty of this plant and asked for a cutting.

The distinctive dark brown (not quite black) canes make this one of the most popular varieties of bamboo, and any nursery that sells bamboo is likely to have some on hand. As the plant matures, the dark color of the culms becomes richer, creating a very attractive contrast to the light green leaves.

Native to the Hunan province of southern China, gardeners are now cultivating black bamboo around the world. Although it does best in its own subtropical habitat, it can grow very well in USDA zones 7-10. When planted in rich, loamy soil, black bamboo can grow 20 to 30 feet tall with mature culms 2″ in diameter.

A healthy specimen can easily function as a centerpiece in a garden, with its distinctly dark canes and billowing foliage. Once harvested and dried, black bamboo is also excellent for processing. The brightly colored poles are suitable for a variety of decorative uses, from fences to furniture.

Also very popular, arrow bamboo owes its name to its long, strong, straight poles, which samurai warriors once used to make arrows. Today it is a good choice for planting in shady corners of the garden. While technically classified as a stolon, it has a far more restrained growth habit than most bamboos in this class. And the broad green leaves make this a very vibrant and attractive specimen.

Arrow bamboo is an excellent candidate for privacy screening as it grows thick and dense. Its height, usually around 12 to 16 feet, also makes it more manageable. A particularly good choice for privacy hedges with height restrictions.

This variety needs good watering. If you are in an arid climate like Southern California, arrow bamboo is not the best choice. Try to keep it in a shady spot with plenty of water drainage.

One of the few bamboos that can be cultivated as ground cover, this specimen makes an excellent accent alongside larger bamboo species, around Japanese pines and in any type of Asian-themed garden. Its compact size also makes it a lot easier to hold despite being a runner. Just keep an eye on those roots!

Unlike most other striped bamboo varieties, this one has stripes on the leaves rather than the sticks. They are light yellow with deep green variegation. The more sunlight it gets, the lighter the yellow becomes, becoming almost white. The light green culms are scarcely as thick as a pencil and rarely grow more than 2 or 3 feet tall.

Dwarf green stripe is a fairly cold hardy species but can look less vibrant in a frosty winter. Some gardeners mow it back in winter. When it comes back in spring, it will be even thicker and more colorful than before.

CLUMPERS

While the most common ornamental bamboo species tend to be runners, the conscientious gardener is always on the lookout for a good variety of clumping bamboo. The most impressive clumps are native to the mild tropics of Indonesia and Southeast Asia, but there are a handful of suitable species for cooler habitats and certainly in mild climates like Florida and California.

Now, before you rush to Home Depot or your nearest discount nursery and start asking vendors for their recommendations on clumping bamboo, remember that not many people — including nursery staff — can reliably tell a runner from a clumper . And as long as clumpers are more expensive, sought after, and harder to come by, it’s easy to imagine how unreliable certain sellers could be.

With that in mind, I’d like to recommend a couple of my favorite bamboo nurseries in California: Bamboo Sourcery in Sebastopol and Bamboo Giant near Santa Cruz. These guys really know their bamboo. But if you want my opinion, here are a few of my favorite lumps. Also check out our directory of North American bamboo nurseries.

Oldhamii is an old favorite and is considered to be the most widely grown bamboo variety in the United States. You could say it’s an old standard. Native to Taiwan, it has a preference for tropical and subtropical climates, so it’s not very hardy. Up to about 25º F only. But with shoots reaching 60 feet or more (under ideal conditions) and growing to about 4 inches in diameter, it is certainly an impressive specimen, especially for a clump. You have to agree, it’s an oldie but a goodie!

Oldhamii is also a popular choice for a privacy hedge, with its bushy leaves and dense, upright canes. The thick poles are also an excellent building material. And many bamboo lovers will eat the sweet, young shoots of this strain. With so many uses, it’s hard to think of a reason NOT to plant an oldhamii grove.

With its slender stems and delicate, fine leaves, this delightfully compact specimen cuts a fine figure in almost any garden. It just takes a gentle breeze to really bring it to life. It also prefers warmer climates. But I’ve grown a few in a cool coastal climate and it’s always looked happy.

This bamboo is a versatile species and does well in a variety of conditions. The salt spray does not bother him near the sea. In California, it tolerates the drought. After all, she hails from northern Mexico. But it is also frost hardy to about 20º F. And in small gardens, the sorrow bamboo does quite well in a pot.

The thin stalks grow up to 10 or 15 feet tall, but the gracefully cascading leaves give the plant its unique appeal.

Buddha’s belly (bambusa vulgaris subspecies)

With a catchy name derived from the bulbous shape of its internodes, Buddha’s abdomen is one of the most easily recognized species and one of the larger species of ornamental bamboo. Some spears also grow zigzag instead of upright. But what it lacks in straight and lean stance it more than makes up for in portly character. This subtropical marvel also thrives better in warmer zones.

The most common variety of Buddha Belly is the Bambusa ventricosa, which grows to about 30 feet tall with 2 to 3 inch culms. Giant Buddha Belly can grow up to 45 feet tall with the entire clump spreading to about 15 feet wide. Perhaps the most beautiful variety is the Yellow Buddha Belly Bamboo (Bambusa ventricosa kimmei), which develops green shoots that gradually turn yellow and take on a beautiful striped effect.

There is also a dwarf variety that stays shorter and more compact. This is particularly suitable for bonsai purposes.

Gardeners have a few tricks to encourage the culms to bulge out and accentuate the characteristic shape of the Buddha’s abdomen. It is important to trim the bamboo at least once a year. By preventing the plant from growing upwards, it tends to grow more outward and zigzag. Also, a little dehydration can cause just enough stress to produce bulbous culms. If too many of your stalks don’t look bulbous, try watering them once a week instead of twice a week or maybe even less.

For more information, see our in-depth article on Buddha Belly Bamboo.

Alfons Karr

This extremely elegant strain is easily recognized by its green and yellow racing stripes. Even in the midst of a large bamboo collection, this one is sure to stand out. In ideal conditions, it can grow up to 20 feet tall and the culms reach about 1 inch in diameter.

Although slower growing, Alphonse Karr is a popular choice for hedging because of its attractive spears. To accentuate the variegated streaks, try cutting back all of the leaves from the bottom 3 feet or so of the plant.

Alphonse is native to the tropics and subtropics of Asia and is much more at home in warm climates. Avoid planting them in USDA zones below 7 or 8.

The beautifully coloured, powder-blue culms give this bamboo a particularly attractive appearance. Native to the mountains and foothills of southern China, it thrives better than most other clumps in a cool climate. In fact, it’s having a tough time in a hot, humid region like the Deep South. But it grows especially well around ponds and in containers. Culinary tip: Fresh shoots of the Himalayan Blue are edible and are said to be very tasty. Someone for scrambled eggs?

Conclusions

Before you decide which bamboo to plant in your garden, you need to consider how much space you have and what you want to achieve. Do you want something compact and decorative? Or are you looking for something that spreads quickly and offers a lot of privacy? Or maybe you grow bamboo for the canes and have a construction project in mind.

Read our article on choosing the best bamboo to get a better idea of ​​what factors to consider and which species are best suited to your environment.

Depending on your needs, you can choose a stolon or clump variety, a short variety or a tall variety. And then plant it in the right place in your garden. Or, even better, choose a few different types of bamboo and create a beautiful space that combines many pleasant and complementary qualities.

And once you’ve selected and planted your bamboo varieties, you might consider adding a bamboo fountain somewhere for that extra zen feel. Then it’s just a matter of sitting quietly and waiting for the breeze to blow through, the leaves rustling and the sticks tapping.

I hope you found these suggestions helpful. If you have a favorite bamboo that we weren’t able to make this short list, let us know in the comments section. In the meantime, happy gardening!

Be sure to also check out some of our other useful and stimulating articles.

NOTE: This article originally appeared in December 2018. It was last updated in May 2022.

How bamboo is planted, grown and cared for

Bamboos are valuable ornamental plants with attractive, lush evergreen foliage that can be used to add tropical effect, style, movement and flair to any garden. Easy to grow and fully hardy, they come in nearly 10,000 varieties ranging from giant tropics to tiny dwarfs and have become increasingly popular and fashionable in recent years for a variety of environments. With a few hundred varieties suited to the UK climate, they are ideal as focal points, to add structure, height and movement to your borders, or to use as a windbreak, hedge or privacy screen.

Choosing a bamboo species

Clumping vs. running bamboos

clumping and runny varieties, both of which have specific uses and benefits. Bamboos can be divided into and, both of which have specific uses and benefits.

Hedge or privacy screen provided roots are restricted to the desired growing area. Running bamboos spread by rhzomes (horizontal underground stems) that help the plant colonize new areas and can spread aggressively if left unchecked. They’re great for creating a quick windbreak, provided the roots are confined to the desired growing area.

Clumping bamboos spread slowly because the root mass growth pattern is said to expand more slowly, like ornamental grasses. Clumping bamboos do well as large specimen plants in lawns or as mixed border plantings and are easier to grow in containers than running bamboo. spread slowly because the growth pattern of the root mass is meant to gradually expand. Clumping bamboos do well as large specimen plants in lawns or as mixed border plantings and are easier to grow in containers than running bamboo.

As a rough rule of thumb, clumping bamboos grow 30-60 cm (1-2 feet) taller each year, with running varieties growing 90 cm-1.5 meters (3-5 feet) taller each year.

Types of running bamboo

Phyllostachys aurea

Phyllostachys aureosulcata f. spectabilis

Phyllostachys Nigra

Pleioblastus pygmaeus Distichus

Pleioblastus variegatus

Pleioblastus viridistriatus

Sasa tsuboiana

Sasa Veitschi

Types of clumping bamboo

Fargesia murielae ‘Simba’

Fargesia murielae

Fargesia murieliae ‘Jumbo’

Fargesia murieliae ‘Rufa’

Fargesia nitida

How to plant bamboo

when to plant

Bamboo can be planted all year round. However, if you have a particularly cold, exposed garden, it is best to plant outdoors early enough to allow the bamboo to become established and harden off before the first winter.

Spring planting is ideal as the food reserves in the rhizome can be used to fuel a fresh cane shoot in the first summer.

aspect and robustness

Fargesia, Thamnocalamus and different bamboo species have different sun and shade preferences. Phyllostachys (consisting of a large number of the tall-growing, running cultivars) thrive best with 5 hours or more of sunlight per day, while Thamnocalamus and Sasa prefer light to moderate shade. It’s really a feature of each species, so it’s best to search for the strain you’re interested in.

Some species of bamboo are very hardy plants, native to the mountainous or lowland regions of Asia where winter temperatures can drop to -25 to -30 degrees Celsius. Others are native to Africa, Australia, and the tropical parts of Asia and are best protected from cold, drying winds.

soil type

Bamboos are not fussy and tolerate most soil types, but generally grow best in moderately acidic, well-drained, loamy soil in a sheltered spot.

Bamboo needs to be well watered during the growing season but does not tolerate wet feet during cooler, wetter times of the year. If you have very heavy, loamy soil, it is best to incorporate gravel or grit when planting.

Distance

Space mature plants 1 meter apart to form a dense screen. Fast growing strains can be planted a little further apart if you don’t mind waiting longer for them to fill in the gaps.

Most bamboos will not suffer from being planted almost back to back if you want an instant privacy screen.

Plant

1) Dig the planting hole 1.5 to 2 times the width and depth of the bamboo root mass and work compost or manure into the excavated soil for a nutrient boost. Add a third of grit in heavy soil.

2) Leave a generous layer of compost at the bottom of the hole so that the root ball is slightly deeper than the original depth, leaving 2-3 cm (1 inch) of soil covering the original surface after backfilling.

3) If your plants are heavily bound in the pot, pull out the roots to prevent them from encircling themselves. In some cases, you may need to make a few snips with a sharp knife to loosen the roots.

4) Soak the root ball well before planting, ideally submerge in a large bucket of water for 20 minutes to allow the water to seep directly into the center of the root ball.

5) Fill in and compact the soil well when finished, being careful not to damage young rhizomes.

6) We don’t normally recommend adding fertilizer at the time of planting, but if you do choose to do so, ensure it is in the top 30cm (1 foot) of topsoil and not at the bottom of the planting hole. This is especially important if you are growing running bamboo to avoid allowing the rhizomes to grow deeper, which would render your root barrier ineffective and make root pruning difficult.

Fertilizing is not usually recommended at planting time, but if you do, use a slow-release, multipurpose fertilizer and apply to the top 30 cm (1 foot) of topsoil

7) Water thoroughly to eliminate air pockets, then mulch with compost, grass, hay, leaf soil or manure.

8) Mulching with bark around the base of your bamboo and where you want it to grow will further aid in water retention. Protect smaller bamboos from excessive sun exposure, especially when planting shade lovers like Fargesia in midsummer.

For advice on growing bamboo in containers, please read our article on planting, growing and caring for bamboo in containers.

Containment of Running Bamboos

Option 1 – Install a physical perimeter barrier

Keeping running strains under control and attractive is relatively easy if planting instructions are carefully followed and routine maintenance is performed. However, they deserve a word of caution – they can become invasive and unsightly, and can spread beyond their borders if left unrestrained and uncontrolled.

A physical perimeter barrier and/or root pruning will keep your walking bamboo looking beautiful and confine it to its intended space.

Planting your running bamboo in a properly installed barrier will prevent it from spreading through beds and borders. When planting, dig a trench at least 60 cm (2 ft), ideally 1.2 m (4 ft) deep and the length of your desired planting, and line the sides with root barrier fabric, high density polyethylene, available at builders’ supply stores, or solid materials, e.g. Paving stones or corrugated iron.

The barrier should protrude at least 7.5 cm (3 in) above the ground to prevent the bamboo stems from arching over the top. It can be faced with decorative mulch or stone.

When rhizomes hit the barrier, they turn around and sometimes go down. Because of this, it’s important to firmly firm the soil to eliminate loose soil and air pockets, otherwise the rhizomes can go deeper than desired and possibly under the barrier.

Option 2 – Regular root pruning

The next option is to check for unwanted, spreading rhizomes and root pruning if necessary. Root pruning should be done biannually in spring and fall for running bamboos.

Root pruning involves working around the bamboo with a sharp spade, driving it into the ground and removing any rhizomes outside of the area where you want the bamboo to grow.

Rhizomes are usually small-rooted and prefer to grow in loose topsoil, making the exercise easier. Small segments of rhizomes may taper off, so be thorough. The exception is when you have very light soil, in which case you can find the rhizomes a little deeper.

To facilitate root pruning, keep a shallow trench 25-30 cm (8-12 in) wide and deep around the bamboo or at least along the edge where it abuts a lawn or path.

Check for creeping rhizomes a few times in late summer and early fall to see if any of them have tried to cross the ditch; If so, remove them. If a trench is impractical for the planting environment, it can be filled with a loose medium such as sand that is easy to dig for root cutting.

Root cut bamboo

Planting within physical barriers and root pruning is not usually required for clumping bamboos, although it is recommended to harvest and divide every two years (more details below).

General garden maintenance

irrigation

Bamboos need frequent and generous watering when first planted to establish themselves. For the first growing season, we recommend watering twice a week in mild weather and 3-4 times a week on very hot days in midsummer. Too little water, especially on hot, dry, windy days, is the main cause of poor growth or failure. Drought tolerance is built as your plants become established.

It is equally important to ensure that excess water can drain freely so that your bamboo plants are not left with wet feet for more than 24 hours. Make sure the area drains well and does not accumulate pools or groundwater for long periods of time.

Bamboos need to be watered frequently and plentifully

feeding and mulching

The more you feed, the more your bamboo will grow. Clumping varieties respond well to feeding. Running strains are already vigorous, and feeding them only makes them more invasive. Unless you have narrowed the roots and want your running bamboo to fill in to create a privacy screen, we do not recommend feeding running bamboo.

If you choose to feed your bamboo, use an all-purpose plant food or a high-nitrogen turf feed. Apply once in early spring and again in summer to match the two main growing seasons of bamboo.

Keep the area around your bamboo plants well mulched and keep the mulch 5cm away from the outer canes to prevent disease. Mulching helps retain moisture and maintain an even temperature around the roots of your plants.

Feed bamboo plants with all-purpose plant fertilizer or high-nitrogen lawn forage

clipping

Dead, damaged, weak, unsightly and skinny canes should be cut back to the ground in the spring with pruning shears or secateurs. This will open up your plants and allow more light and air into the center to keep them healthy. Fallen leaves, grass clippings, reed sheaths and other debris will collect around the base of your plant. It is best to remove these at the same time as pruning.

You can prune your bamboo plants without fear of damaging them. Make your pruning shears just above a knot so as not to leave a stub that will die off and look unsightly.

You can relieve congestion on mature plants by cutting off some side branches. If you need to prune some shoots at the top, trimming side branches will also make your plants look more natural and balanced.

It is possible to create a more eye-catching effect by removing all side branches and leaves at the base of your plants to let the beauty of the canes shine to the full.

Cultivating bamboo in containers

Containerized bamboo requires more maintenance as it makes it more vulnerable to environmental stress. They are more sensitive to heat and cold, strong winds tip them over and they dry out more quickly due to the restricted root space.

They should be watered regularly – every other day in summer so that the pot can drain well – and protected from frost and ice in winter.

yellowing and falling leaves

While bamboo is evergreen, they regenerate their leaves, so having some leaves fall off your plants is perfectly natural and healthy.

Expect significant yellowing of some leaves in spring, followed by leaf drop. This is especially true for the Phyllostachys and Fargesia varieties.

Fallen leaves are replaced with fresh new ones. It is quite normal to see a combination of green leaves, yellow leaves, and newly developing leaves in spring.

However, if large parts of your plants are turning yellow, you probably have a problem. This can be caused by poor soil, insufficient nutrients, too much or too little water, or stressful growing situations.

Make sure you drink enough water, especially on hot, dry days; If not, increase watering.

Conversely, if you have heavy, loamy soil, make sure water isn’t “puddled” around the base; If this is the case, consider raising and replanting with lots of sand (even planted in a raised mound) to improve drainage.

If your bamboo is in a windy, exposed location, install a windbreak to provide some shelter.

Lifting and dividing clumps of bamboo

The best time for lifting and dividing clumps is mid-spring, before the growing season. To keep the plant hydrated and reduce the risk of transplant shock, water your bamboo thoroughly the night before dividing.

Gently loosen the soil around the clump with a fork, being careful not to damage any of the rhizomes underground, then carefully lift them out of the ground.

Shake off excess soil from the root ball, rinse with water to expose the bamboo root system and examine the rhizomes for natural division points.

Depending on the amount in the soil or pot, the size of the pot and the number of divisions you want, divide the rhizomes into two, three or four sections using a saw, ax or hoe.

Any old, rotten, or otherwise damaged roots should be discarded to prevent fungal infections and encourage healthy growth.

One of the divided sections is best planted back in the original spot or container in the garden while others can be used elsewhere in the garden.

When beginning a new planting or small plant division, you can expect new shoots to grow only slightly taller than last year’s canes.

If you’d rather discard the excess rhizome sections, allow them to dry out and die before discarding them on the compost heap, otherwise they may take root in the nutrient-rich environment of your compost heap!

bamboo blossom

Popular belief is that bamboos always die after flowering. This is not always the case, although it will leave your plants significantly weakened. A few simple steps can give your plants the best chance.

The good news is that flowering occurs infrequently and can sometimes just be the odd large, feathery flowering spike rather than the whole cluster bursting into bloom.

Cut off any odd flowering shoots as soon as they are discovered to prevent more from forming.

If the whole clump bursts into bloom, let it do it even if the foliage starts to turn brown and looks lifeless. Keep watering and feeding all the time.

Thyrsostachys siamensis, also known as monastery bamboo, Thai bamboo, or umbrella bamboo, is a tropical, medium-sized woody species of bamboo native to China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.

This species is a very graceful, tufting bamboo (non-invasive) known for its tall and upright habit. The dense clumps with very straight lower section and slightly drooping tips make Thyrsostachys siamensis suitable for ornamental use in tight areas that require screening.

Monastery bamboo has edible shoots and the firm or almost firm culms make it a good and strong construction bamboo.

Use compost to plant bamboo

Taking care of the right plants is very important for optimal growth and health. Use garden compost or manure to work into the soil around your new bamboo planting while digging the initial planting hole. Work the new compost into the bottom of the hole to improve drainage and place the bamboo in the hole so that the top of the root mass is level with the top of the soil. Make sure the hole is 1.5 to 2 times the width of the bamboo root mass.

Mix in the remaining compost with the local soil when you refill the hole. This provides a nutrient boost and improves drainage in the soil around the bamboo roots. Lay a 2-3 inch layer of compost over the top of the bamboo. Water the new planting thoroughly.

Soil selection for optimized planting

Most bamboos do best in moderately acidic loamy soil. If your soil is very heavy, you can add organic matter. The material can be dug into the ground where you want to plant the bamboo, but you can also mulch very heavily and let the earthworms do the work by building a berm of nutritious soil (which also helps with bamboo control). Bamboo is a woodland plant and does best when a mulch is kept over the roots and rhizomes. Spread two or more inches of mulch around the area around the bamboo and where you want the bamboo to grow.

It’s best not to rake or sweep up the bamboo leaves from under the plant as they keep the soil soft and moist. Leaves also recycle silica and other natural chemicals necessary for the bamboo. Almost any organic material makes a good mulch. A low-growing, shade-tolerant groundcover plant that allows the leaves to fall through to form a mulch without being visible will work if you find dry leaf mulch uncomfortable. Grass is one of the best organic mulches as it is rich in nitrogen and silica. Homemade or commercial compost is great too. In our nursery we use a large amount of chopped trees from pruning services. This can harbor pathogens that may affect some trees or shrubs, but the bamboo loves it.

*We sell a Teufel Soil Products organic blended compost that contains all the essential nutrients including active microbes, worm droppings, seaweed meal and composted manure and bark chips. We have been using this product for several years and it has had consistent quality and excellent results on our bamboo.

Grow bamboo in containers

Bamboo is an excellent container plant. It offers an upright, evergreen screen for many uses. We have developed a special container for growing bamboo called Sugi Bamboo Planters as our flagship offering. They provide containment for up to 10 years before the bamboo needs to be transplanted.

Other options include galvanized metal storage tanks, cedar crates, and large cloth pots (Root Pouch).

The following points are important for the long-term health and conservation of container grown bamboo:

Expected height/stem diameter

Limited root space = limited height and smaller stem diameter. In general, the expected height is 1/2 to 3/4 of the maximum height. For example, Black Bamboo (a running bamboo) can grow over 30 feet tall in the ground, but often won’t get taller than 15 feet when grown in a container. Clumping bamboo often reaches 10 feet in a planter as opposed to 12 to 15 feet in the ground.

resilience

Bamboo grown in containers is less hardy than grown in soil. Container bamboo, especially those that are not well adapted to hot sun and cold winters, require more care in placement as they can be damaged if the pot overheats or freezes. A bamboo that is hardy to 0℉ in the soil may suffer cold damage at 10℉ if grown in a container. The larger the container, the more robust your bamboo will be.

irrigation

We recommend watering your containers when the top of the soil appears dry, until water comes out of the drainage holes at the bottom. Always monitor your plants for signs of dehydration, such as: B. leaves curling. In extreme heat we often water our bamboo every day, but in normal weather we water 2 to 3 times a week in summer or during longer dry periods. 1 to 2 gallons of water per session is usually sufficient, but this amount increases if the container is larger or the bamboo is root bound.

soil/fertilization

Bamboo does best in a neutral to slightly acidic, well-draining but moisture-retaining potting soil.

We recommend fertilizing 3x per vegetation period (spring – summer) with a nitrogen-rich grass fertilizer: 20-5-10 (NPK) for example with added iron. We also offer an 8-2-2 Organic Bamboo Fertilizer (this is a custom blend we developed at Bamboo Garden) to mix in with the potting soil. Always follow package directions for amount and frequency of use.

Repot/Share

Depending on the size of the container, you will need to repot or divide every 5-10 years to maintain the bamboo’s optimal health and vitality. With our Sugi bamboo planters, bamboo can grow well for up to 10 years. If left uncared for, root bound bamboo can escape from its container or even break. Repotting/dividing is best done in spring. “Dividing” means cutting the bamboo root mass in half and transplanting the divisions into separate containers. Smaller divisions can also be made at this point. Our Sugi bamboo planters have the bottom removable so the bamboo can be squeezed out from underneath which is a great advantage for easy transplanting.

container

We recommend using our Sugi bamboo planter as it offers good insulation from both heat and cold and offers easy maintenance due to the trapezoidal shape and bamboo barrier linings. If metal storage tanks are used for bamboo, we recommend insulating the inside with Bamboo Barrier. Metal stock should also have additional drain holes (1/2 inch diameter and ~2 per square foot) to ensure adequate drainage. We recommend placing all containers on brick foundations to avoid eventual clogging of drainage holes or container deterioration.

bamboo barrier

Bamboo rhizomes can stick to porous surfaces like wood or clay. Therefore, we recommend lining each container with a bamboo barrier to make removing your bamboo easier and to extend the life of the planter. Bamboo Barrier also provides extra insulation from heat and cold.

Bamboo products are huge today and find their place in the kitchen and in the home. This is an extremely durable and reliable material that you can even grow in your garden. One thing about bamboo that many find interesting is that it is one of the fastest growing plants on our planet today.

You may be wondering which species of bamboo grows the fastest and how fast it grows? In fact, the Guinness Book of World Records states that there are “certain” species of bamboo that can grow up to 1m per day. While it doesn’t specify the exact species that grows fastest, it’s more than likely a member of the Bambusa and Phyllostachys genera.

In fact, today there are over 1,000 bamboo species classified as grass. The exact speed at which these plants can grow in depth depends on the environment and the care the plant is given. In the right conditions, these plants can grow almost 100 feet tall!

Exactly how fast does bamboo grow?

This leads to the question of how fast bamboo actually grows and what to expect when planting bamboo in your garden. As mentioned, certain plants can grow up to 1m tall in as little as 24 hours. This reduces to 1.5 inches (4 cm) per hour!

Watch this video from BBC’s Wild China on YouTube

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In order to achieve this rapid growth, the bamboo must have absolutely perfect conditions. There are many factors that go into this bamboo growth such as species, soil, climate and the growth patterns themselves. Growing these plants to immense heights quickly takes some work and education.

What Makes Bamboo Grow So Fast?

Bamboo grows very uniquely and unlike many other plants out there as it is a form of elongation. Many bamboo plants have a large cone at the base, which can be around 15 to 20 cm tall. This is a cone at the base of the lump, with the pointed side pointing up.

This cone is very interesting as it contains all of the cells that will eventually become a new bamboo stem called the culm. Under suitable conditions, water enters these cells and causes them to inflate rapidly. The cell walls do not allow the plant to expand laterally, forcing it to elongate rapidly. After the initial growth, you will see the side stems and leaves of the bamboo plant develop.

Essentially, for the plant to reach its full potential, all it needs is the right amount of water to fill its cells. Bamboo plants are very effective at this and are therefore the fastest growing plants.

Selection of the best bamboo species for rapid growth

As mentioned earlier, bamboo now holds the world record for being the fastest growing plant in the world. Although these species are from the Bambusa and Phyllostachys genera, there are several other bamboo species that grow rapidly. If you’re interested in which species grow best and fastest, here are some amazing species available today:

Moso Bamboo Forest

Moss Bamboo

This is a very fast growing species that can reach 3m in just 3 weeks. Unlike other species, Moso plants grow stout as they get taller, staying five inches (13 cm) near their base even when they are 10 feet tall. This is also a woody bamboo and is commonly used for food, plywood, flooring, furniture and more.

Learn more about wood bamboo here!

Greenstripe Vivax

Greenstripe Vivax

Technically, this is Phyllostachys Vivax. It is considered a woody bamboo and can quickly grow to a height of 14 m with an average diameter of 13 cm. The plant itself is somewhat rare, but is one of the finest bamboo species available. These plants have green stripes on yellow canes and usually large leaves.

Golden Bamboo

Golden Bamboo

This is a species of bamboo that you may have heard of before, technically it’s Phyllostachys Aurea but is often referred to as fishing rod bamboo. This bamboo is a great plant for your garden as it can create a good privacy screen as it forms a dense grove uncut. These plants grow to around 11m tall, start out light green in color and turn golden in color with sunlight.

Red border

Red border

This is a fast growing bamboo that is great for privacy screens. It not only develops rapidly in height, but also horizontally. The underground rhizomes of this running bamboo can become quite invasive, so you’ll want to avoid extreme spread. Red Margin can reach 12-18m in the right conditions.

Phyllostachys Viridis

Phyllostachys Viridis

This is another woody bamboo that grows quickly, especially in warm climates. It grows to an average height of 9-10.6 m and has culms with a diameter of 7.6 cm.

Silver Lining Bamboo

This is considered a clumping bamboo species of the Bambusa genera. It can reach a height of 8 m in adulthood. It gets its name from the white stripes on its leaves and occasionally on its stalks. Unlike the other species mentioned, this bamboo only grows about 1 inch in diameter.

What are the best conditions for proper bamboo growth?

Now that you know more about bamboo’s rapid growth and the fastest growing species, you might be wondering what conditions lead to it? As mentioned earlier, in the scientific world, bamboo is actually classified as a grass. This plant grows very quickly, but like most plants, it requires you to provide the right climate and soil conditions.

Bamboo thrives in moist but well-drained soil. They require plenty of sun each day and should be placed in a sunny spot. These plants often need at least six hours of sunlight daily.

As far as plants go, bamboo is one of the toughest out there. They can grow in almost any type of soil, even those with sand, rocks, clay, and more. If you want a plant that is likely to grow even if you tend to be sloppy, bamboo is a great choice.

Get all bamboo care tips here!

Soil conditions are crucial for bamboo growth

The only real thing that can significantly affect bamboo growth is being planted in an area that has poorly draining soil or is consistently wet and swampy. If bamboo is planted in soil that is too saturated, it can suffocate the roots and cause them not to get the air they need. This can cause the roots to rot, which can lead to the death of the plant.

If the area you plan to plant the bamboo in is overly saturated, there are a few things you can do to improve drainage and increase growth. You can add sand or other granular material to the soil to improve drainage.

If your area tends to be too dry, this can also be a problem. Of course you can water the bamboo, but this can be time-consuming if you have a large area planted. However, you can also add compost or other organic materials to get the moisture you need.

Learn more about soil and fertilizers here!

In which areas is bamboo best suited?

It is well known that bamboo is native to the Asia-Pacific region due to the tropical climate that prevails there. There are several other native species found in the tropical rainforests of South America, Central America, and even the southeastern United States.

The fastest-growing species are found in warm-temperate and tropical climates, which provide optimal growing conditions for the plant. The tallest bamboo species has been found in the tropics and was reportedly 40 m tall. However, the tallest species found in Europe and the United States is between 65 and 98 feet (20-30 m).

When should you plant your bamboo?

Before you go out and buy bamboo to plant in your garden, you might want to do a little more research on its growth and care. If you want to plant bamboo, you should do your research and be ready before spring arrives. March to June is usually the best time to plant your bamboo. Fall is also a good option, but you want to get good growth before winter comes.

A well-rooted bamboo plant can be planted in the summer, but you need to make sure it gets the right water during those warmer months. If you live in a mild climate, you can plant bamboo practically whenever you want, you just have to make sure that the plants get enough water and enough sun.

Overall, bamboo is a great choice for those who want a fast-growing plant that’s fairly easy to care for!

Which fast-growing bamboo species do you pick?

So you want to plant some bamboo in your garden. It grows fast, has an exotic flair and can add a lot of decorative elegance to your greenery. But there are two things you might be concerned about. First of all, you get snow in winter and you don’t want the frost to kill your bamboo. Also, you’ve heard that bamboo can spread quickly and aggressively. And you don’t want it to take over your entire yard, cross your property lines, and result in frosty relationships with your neighbors. These are valid concerns indeed, but it’s easy to find non-invasive bamboo species that can withstand the cold.

Many of the most popular bamboo varieties are quite vigorous and potentially invasive or better suited to subtropical conditions. In general, the more cold hardy bamboos tend to have runny rhizome root systems, while the more manageable clumping varieties tend to prefer warmer climates. But among the roughly 1,500 species of bamboo, you’ll find a surprising selection of clumping species that can survive winters with temperatures as low as -10º or -20º F. The hardiest clumps belong to the genus Fargesia. You can also search for members of Borinda, Yushania, Himalayacalamus, and Chusquea.

Classification of Bamboo

While there are literally thousands of bamboo species, gardeners will initially divide them into just two categories: stolons and clumps. Basically, the rhizome roots of a bamboo plant can take one of two forms, and this determines whether the plant will walk or clump.

This is a bit oversimplified as not all runners run the same and some clumps actually like to spread. At the same time, it is quite a useful and important tool to distinguish between different types of bamboo.

Running bamboo

Running bamboo has so-called monopodial or leptomorphic rhizomes. These subterranean appendages extend outward, running parallel to the ground and away from the main facility. The top of the rhizome continues, but side shoots periodically sprout from the ground and become new culms. As long as there is sufficient water, the rhizomes will continue to stretch out.

Within a given genus, all bamboo species have the same growth habit. Phyllostachys, for example, is probably the most widespread genus of running bamboo. These varieties of bamboo spread quickly, which many gardeners appreciate. But they also have the potential to become invasive, which can be a real nuisance.

One benefit of running with bamboo is that it tends to be more temperate and cold-tolerant. They are mostly native to regions like central China and Japan, where winters typically bring snow and frost.

Clumping Bamboo

The rhizomes of the clumping bamboo are called sympodial or pachymorphic. These rhizomes are thicker and generally U-shaped, so the tip curves up and becomes a new shoot. It’s much easier to manage a clumping bamboo because you don’t have rhizomes that crawl several feet underground and then send out new shoots about a year later.

Most clumps stop spreading once the plant has reached a certain overall diameter, usually between 10 and 20 feet in diameter. But other varieties, which we call open clumps, can spread indefinitely. Even so, an open, clumping bamboo is still easier to contain than most running bamboos, just due to the nature of their rhizomes.

Bambusa is one of the most popular species of clumping bamboo, particularly in North America. But like most clumps, they typically prefer tropical or subtropical conditions. The giant bamboo varieties such as Dendrocalamus of Southeast Asia and Guadua of Central and South America are other examples of tropical clumps.

Hardy clumping bamboo

The general bamboo rule suggests that runners are temperate and clumps are tropical and subtropical. But of course every rule has exceptions. Coincidentally, the most cold hardy genus of bamboo of all is probably Fargesia, and they are clumps. These varieties are native to China, but they make up the most popular ornamental bamboo species in Europe and Canada, two of the few regions that do not have their own native bamboo.

The foothills and lower slopes of the Himalayas are also home to several other genera of clumping bamboo. Not all botanists agree, however, and some recognize the genus Borinda as a distinct genus, while others believe they belong to the same clade as Fargesia. Thamnocalamus is another very close relative of Fargesia.

Also native to this region is the clumping genus Himalayacalamus, which includes numerous blue bamboos that are very closely related to the genus Drepanostachyum. The key difference between these two genera is that Himalayan calamus have a dominant branch at each node, while Drepanostachyum plants have multiple small branches. Yushania, an open genus closely related to Borinda and Fargesia, is also native to this mountainous part of the world.

From South America, the genus Chusquea has several cultivars that are native to higher elevations. They have more of an open clumping habit and are probably not hardy enough for Canada, but they are great down to 0º F (USDA Zone 7). And unlike the Himalayan bamboo, most chusqueas can tolerate very hot weather.

F. dracocephala: “Dragonhead Bamboo” has thick culms that grow to about 10 feet in length with a thick, drooping canopy that can provide a good privacy screen. Not recommended for hot, humid climates, but is hardy to -10º F. A popular variety of this species is ‘Rufa’, not to be confused with F. rufa, a separate species listed below. A dwarf variety of this species is also available that only grows to about 6 feet tall and is sometimes listed as Yushania confusa.

F. gaolinensis: A recently discovered species from Gaolin County, Yunnan Province, China. Some authors classify it as Borinda gaolinensis, another good example of the confusion endemic to bamboo taxonomy.

F. murielae: Commonly known as “umbrella bamboo,” it is considered by many to be one of the prettiest varieties to grow. It is also the most common bamboo in Europe. New shoots have a light blue tint, becoming dark green and yellow with age. Growing this bamboo in a shady area will preserve the rich shade of blue. Thin shoots grow to about 12 feet tall and are hardy to -20º F.

F. nitida: “Blue Fountain Bamboo” owes its name to the dark purple, bluish culms and thick, cascading canopy. Outwardly very similar to F. muriela except for the coloring of the culms. One-inch spears can grow up to 15 feet tall and thrive in temperatures as low as -20º F.

F. rufa: Rufa is a compact, stout, and bushy variety that prefers cooler climates and does well in partial shade, sheltered from the afternoon sun. This species is hardy to -15º F. Thin culms grow to about 10 feet tall.

F. scabrida: Another colorful variety with shoots in shades of orange, blue, and purple that eventually turn deep green. Also known as the ‘Asian Wonder’, it grows well in sun or shade and is hardy to -10º F. Mature plants reach 10 or 15 feet tall with culms less than 2.5 cm in diameter. Despite being a clumper, it has a more vigorous growth habit. Still, its coloring makes it a favorite among bamboo growers.

Other mountain bamboo

Borinda papyrifera: An unusually beautiful specimen with beautiful blue culms that turn yellow-green with age. Canes are 1-2 inches thick and 15-25 feet tall. Very pronounced culm sheaths are used for papermaking. Native of high elevations of Yunnan, China and hardy to 10 or 15º F. Not suited to hot, humid regions. Compact clumps only grow 5 or 6 feet wide.

Drepanostachyum khasianum: This particularly rare variety has bluish stalks like many bamboos from the Himalayas, but here it is almost turquoise with violet reflections. The culms are thin and beautiful and have distinct nodes with white rings. (See image above.) Grows 10 to 15 feet tall with a graceful, cascading shape. Native to the Indian highlands and happier in cool climates and shady places. Hardy to about 15º F.

Himalayacalamus hookerianus ‘Himalaya Blue’: When gardeners speak of ‘blue bamboo’, this is usually the species they have in mind. More common than some of the others on this list. New culms are light blue with rust spots and purple, turning golden with age. Grows 10-20 feet tall with a more upright shape. Hardy to about 20º F.

Himalayacalamus porcatus ‘Nepalese Blue’: A smaller, less common relative of the Himalayan Blue, with similar characteristics but only 8 to 10 feet tall. The leaves are slender and delicate and overall very attractive.

Thamnocalamus tessellatus: A handsome, upright clump from South Africa, this specimen grows to about 10-15 feet tall and is hardy to about 5º F. The clumps are dense and neat, with slender 1-inch pods. Good in full sun but not in hot, humid climates.

Yushania maculata: Another mountain bamboo from southern China, also with light blue culms that turn yellow-green with age. Grows quickly, but the clumps remain dense and compact, reaching 10-15 feet in height. The leaves are thin and delicate and quite attractive overall. Hardy to about 0º F.

Chusquea culeou: Several varieties of this species, all native to Chile, have become popular with American bamboo growers. Slightly exotic in appearance, they also adapt to a wide range of climates, ranging from 0º to 100º F. They also tolerate wetter soil than most other bamboos.

C. culeou ‘Caña prieta’: Attractive, upright culms start out dark brown or black and gradually fade to yellow but remain dark around the nodes. They grow 10 or 20 feet tall with culms 1 inch thick. Hardy to about 0º F.

C. culeou ‘Chilean straight’: Similar to other cultivars, but new shoots appear dark green or bluish before turning yellow. Comparable in size and durability.

C. culeou ‘Scandens’: This cultivar is taller than the others, growing up to 20 or 30 feet tall and arching more at the top. Also hardy to about 0º F.

Chusquea gigantea: Not as massive as the name might suggest, but still a very impressive and attractive bamboo variety. This plant grows upright and can reach 20-30 feet tall. The interesting culms, buttery yellow but dark green around the nodes, reach up to 1.5 or 2 inches in diameter. (See image below.) Most nodes produce a very long branch accompanied by several smaller ones, resulting in a bushy profusion of leaves. This makes them very effective as privacy screens. They are frost hardy down to 0º F but can handle a lot of heat even in summer.

Expand your knowledge

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Most bamboo species are native to warm climates, however, bamboo can grow in different climates around the world. If you live in an area that gets cold and temperatures drop well below freezing in winter, there are a few things you need to keep in mind to be successful with bamboo growing.

It is possible to grow bamboo in states like Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Iowa if you follow a few simple steps.

I have created a list of 10 tips that will help you become a proud bamboo grower on your property. As you will see, it’s actually quite easy and doesn’t take too much time.

1- Check your hardiness zone

As a gardener, the first thing you should do before planting is knowing the weather conditions in your area. The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is a useful tool for finding out average annual winter temperatures and determining which plants are most likely to thrive. As a general rule, information about the hardiness zones they can withstand should be available when purchasing your bamboo plants.

If you’re not sure what your zone is, you can go to the USDA plant hardiness website and either look at the map or just type your zip code into the search box.

2- Choose the right kind

To grow bamboo plants in cold climates, you need to find cold hardy bamboo plants. Some survive winter down to USDA hardiness zone 5, and some very rare species can even grow in zone 4.

Keep in mind that not all species that can survive harsh winters behave the same. While some bamboo species remain above and behave the same as they do in warmer climates, some species can shed leaves and act as perennials, meaning only the underground parts survive the winter.

If possible, ask local bamboo sellers or growers how the particular bamboo you are buying will perform in your climate.

Here are examples of good hardy bamboo on Amazon:

Hardy to -15F. Colder temperatures can damage top growth, but the plant will recover from the roots

Sun conditions can vary from full sun to full shade

Mature plants reach about 20 feet in height and 1 inch in diameter

Hardy to -10F to -20F

Grows best in full sun

Rapid growth up to 8′ tall when mature

Has crimson sheaths on new culms

Dense, slightly hanging habit, makes a beautiful bedding plant

Fully hardy in zones 5 through 11

Can reach 15 to 25 feet tall and 2 inches in diameter.

The bamboo is yellow with green stripes, but if planted in full sun the new canes will take on a beautiful magenta/orange color as they emerge. Once the new cane has stopped growing in height (about 30 to 40 days), the cane will return to its default color.

Grows well in full sun to partial shade.

Another great place on the internet is Lewis Bamboo. You have a nice selection of cold hardy bamboo available.

3- Buy from local or other northern nurseries

It’s fine to order your bamboo from growers located further south, but the best option, if available, is to get your bamboo plants from local nurseries or growers in a similar climate.

Local nurseries have several advantages for them, although they can be a more expensive option.

Knowledgeable Staff – The local nursery staff have a great understanding of the plants they grow and your specific climate conditions. They will give you expert advice and tips on cultivation, soil conditions, fertilization, frost protection, identification and control of possible pests and diseases.

Better Adapted Plants – The plants at the local nursery were grown locally so they wouldn’t suffer from the wide swings in light and temperature they would get when traveling from far away. Locally grown plants tend to be more resilient as they are already used to the soil conditions and seasonal changes in your area, which also means they require less water and fertilizer.

When you buy plants from major national retailers, chances are the plants you are buying are from a location with a completely different environment than yours. And there’s a good chance that the fresh-looking plants were grown in a carefully monitored greenhouse with stable conditions that aren’t reproducible in the “real world” aka your garden.

Don’t worry about alien pests – locally grown crops don’t run the risk of introducing unknown alien pests onto your property.

4 – Choose the planting site carefully

Bamboo is popular and people have it for many reasons. It can play the role of a decorative focal point in your garden, but also makes a great privacy screen, hedge, windbreak, and ground cover. Depending on how you want to grow it, you should choose the planting location that best suits your needs and what the bamboo needs for good growth.

If you plan to plant bamboo near the border with your neighbor, in most cases it is wiser to prefer a clumping bamboo to a running bamboo to avoid the risk of it spreading in the wrong direction too quickly.

Consider the sun conditions your chosen bamboo will need – some thrive in full sun, others prefer partial to full shade.

If you get strong cold winter winds, see if there’s something to protect the bamboo at least during the winter.

5 – Get ready for winter

Normally summer care for bamboo is not a big problem in colder climates like zone 5, there is usually enough sun and rain for optimal growth.

Things can get a little trickier in winter – cold, snow, wind, frozen ground – all of these conditions can be stressful for bamboo plants. While your bamboo will survive the winter, you’d better ensure that the plant suffers as little damage throughout the winter as possible to speed up its growth in the spring.

If you want you can cover the bamboo with mini greenhouse tents, but this will prevent rainwater so you would have to water. However, this is not a necessity, so don’t worry if you leave your bamboo as is.

6 – Mulch generously

Mulch around your bamboo plantings to protect the root zone from freezing in extremely low temperatures.

Typically, about 4 to 6 inches of mulch material you have will do, although for particularly extreme climates, choose a deeper layer. You can use commercially available mulch or things you have around the property like grass clippings, pine needles, hay, wood shavings, etc.

An extra layer of mulch is most important for new plants in the first 3 years – this is the time when bamboo is still establishing itself on your land and is most vulnerable.

Once established, most bamboos easily survive the winter as they have grown a significantly larger biomass of roots and rhizomes and are naturally better protected.

7 – Protect from the wind

In areas with extreme and cold winds, wind protection is essential.

One way to do this is to lay down your bamboo stalks and cover them with bales of hay or straw.

Alternatively – plant bamboo near a fence, house wall or dense bush that gets in the way of the prevailing wind direction in the area.

8 – Consider growing in containers

I personally think container bamboo is a great option for northern growers.

If you want to grow bamboo outdoors in containers, you should keep in mind that the soil in pots freezes more and faster than soil and therefore the roots are colder and more likely to suffer in winter.

So why do I think containers are a great option?

You can move them!

When temperatures drop near freezing, simply place the containers of plants in a greenhouse, garage, or whatever building you have at your disposal. Now try to put them in a building that is not completely dark, as bamboo, like any plant, needs light.

If you can’t move the containers in – wrap them carefully. Any insulating material is fine to use as long as it doesn’t freeze the ground.

9 – Don’t panic when the leaves fall off in winter

Normally, bamboo stays green all year round, but there can be exceptions.

It may not happen every winter, but if your bamboo sheds all its leaves, don’t panic – it’s almost certain that the underground parts of the bamboo are still alive and the plant will grow back in the spring.

Bamboo can turn yellowing leaves or even shed leaves under various stress conditions. The freezing, windy winter is definitely stressful for any bamboo plant, even if it’s a hardy variety.

Shedding leaves in winter protects the bamboo from losing too much water in winter when it is difficult to get it out of the ground. The bamboo also loses water through leaves on cold days, especially when it is sunny during the day.

In this case, do not cut the stalks. Leaving bamboo as it is will help it grow back sooner.

10 – Shake off snow

If a lot of it weighs on your bamboo, shrug off the show. If it melts away soon, don’t worry, but leaving bamboo under a thick layer of snow for a long time puts unnecessary stress on the plant.

If you can’t shake it off, don’t try to break off frozen snow and ice. This will do more harm than good.

Featured image: Snow on Bamboo by Tony Kent, Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0

Botanical Name Phyllostachys nigra Common Name Black Bamboo Plant Type Grass Mature Size 30 feet tall, 2 inches wide Sun Exposure Full sun to part shade Soil Type Well-drained, moist, loamy Soil pH Acidic to slightly alkaline Flowering Period Every 40 to 60 years Flower Color Brown Hardiness Zones 7 to 10, USA Native area Asia Toxicity Non-toxic

Black bamboo care

Black bamboo thrives in sunny areas with moist, nutrient-rich, well-drained soil. Bamboo’s shallow root system means that strong winds could damage or uproot them. Planting black bamboo in an area where it is sheltered from gusty conditions is ideal.

Under favorable growing conditions, the rapid growth of black bamboo can result in this plant dominating your landscaping fairly quickly. To prevent this, root pruning or root barriers can be used to keep the plant in check. Root barriers include fiberglass or polypropylene sheets that are buried up to 36 inches deep to prevent roots and rhizomes from migrating from the desired area. If you don’t have a large area for this walker to spread, container growing is a good option and will naturally control the spread of the bamboo.

This species of bamboo is a gregarious flowering bamboo, meaning that every black bamboo plant around the world flowers at about the same time. This only happens every 40 to 60 years, and this generation of bamboo dies shortly after. The seeds can be collected and planted to start a new stand of bamboo growth.

Warning Black bamboo uses stolons to propagate rather than forming clumps like many other grass species. As a result, its growth is considered fast and aggressive. The underground rhizomes easily cause this plant to pop up in unexpected places in your garden and yard. Eradication requires removing every piece of rhizome, which can prove a real challenge if left unchecked.

The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

light

Black bamboo is not too picky when it comes to lighting conditions. It can be grown anywhere from full sun to partial shade.

floor

Black bamboo loves nutrient-rich soil. Moist, loamy, well-drained varieties are ideal for optimal growth. A mix of sand, clay, and silt is a great combination, but black bamboo can adapt to many soil conditions as long as it has good drainage.

To help your soil maintain a healthy balance of moisture and good drainage, try adding a layer of mulch around your bamboo.

water

Black bamboo loves water and benefits most from a consistent watering schedule. Try to keep your soil moist but never waterlogged.

Bamboo plants in a container will require more frequent watering. Depending on the humidity and temperature in your area, you may need to water these plants as often as every other day.

temperature and humidity

Black bamboo is considered one of the hardiest bamboo species out there and can be grown in zones 7 through 10. Despite being a tropical plant, this bamboo variety can withstand temperatures as low as 0 degrees Fahrenheit. This makes black bamboo a perfect choice for northern gardeners.

For those living in areas with harsh winters, container grown black bamboo can be easily brought indoors for the colder months. As for humidity, black bamboo is quite tolerant of different conditions. However, if kept indoors, the occasional misting will ensure better growth and vitality.

fertilizer

To encourage healthy growth, you can fertilize black bamboo for extra nutrients. For best results, choose a fertilizer high in nitrogen; This type of fertilizer is usually best for grasses. Apply fertilizer in late spring and again in the middle of the growing season.

harvest

Bamboo shoots are an interesting and fun addition to stir-fries and are often used in Asian cuisine. To harvest the young sprouts, wait until they are a few inches tall. Try to harvest while they are 6 inches or less for the best flavor.

Use a sharp knife to cut off the shoot near the ground. Be sure to harvest the plants sustainably and responsibly, and be careful not to deprive the plant of all of its new growth. When you are ready to prepare your harvest, cut the shoots in half lengthwise and remove the hard outer covering. Then cut them to the desired thickness and boil or fry them.

clipping

Bamboo is known to be a fast-growing plant, which contributes to its appeal as a natural privacy barrier. However, to keep the height of your bamboo in check, you should occasionally prune the plant to the desired height.

Pruning bamboo to control growth should be done in spring. The nodes of the plant provide an easy visual clue as to where the height of each stem needs to be reduced. Cut each stem just above a knot.

Additionally, you can curb unwanted growth of black bamboo plants in the ground by cutting off new shoots that sprout from the rhizomes down to the ground. Keep in mind that this will stunt the growth of this plant, but it is a prolific spreader once planted straight into the ground and you may not be able to control its growth simply by reducing new growth.

Propagation of Black Bamboo

Propagating bamboo is easy and is best done by division. It is ideal for dividing bamboo plants in late winter or early spring.

Water the bamboo well the day before dividing. Before dividing, cut off the top 2/3 of the stem. With a sharp spade, dig out the section you want to divide. You may need a saw to cut through the thick roots. From here you can keep the clump large or divide it into smaller sections of 3 or 4 stalks each. Plant each section in a hole twice the width of the root ball. Mix in compost or other fertilizer and fill in the area. Water thoroughly.

Potting and repotting of black bamboo

Black bamboo is easily grown in containers, which is a perfect choice for those who have smaller gardens or who want to keep it indoors. When choosing a container, try to find one that is short, wide, and bottom-heavy. Adding rocks to the bottom of the container can help with this. Because bamboo grows so tall, a lighter, larger pot can easily be blown over.

Because black bamboo is a walking bamboo and grows quickly, it can outgrow its pot faster than other species. You will need to repot once your bamboo is root bound. Potted bamboo requires more water than plants in the ground, so be sure to keep an eye on soil moisture. Place your pot in a sunny spot sheltered from the wind and enjoy its striking appearance and green foliage.