Q: Is it possible to plant bamboo and beautify your garden without the bamboo running out of control and becoming invasive?Ī: Yes! If you plant a clumping type of bamboo, you will have a much easier time keeping it contained. Bamboo genus Description Bambusa Subtropical clumpers that come in an enormous variety of shapes, sizes and colors Borinda Cold hardy clumpers native to the Himalayas Chusquea Neotropical genus unusual for its solid, or nearly solid, rather than hollow, culm Dendrocalamus Tropical giants from Southeast Asia, suitable in zones 9 and up Fargesia The most cold hardy genus of clumping bamboos Guadua Tropical giants of Central and South America, suitable in zones 9 and up Himalayacalamus An Asian genus native to the lower elevations of the Himalayas Otatea Clumpers native to Mexico, Central America, and Colombiaīefore deciding what sort of bamboo to plant, it’s important to understand a few of the basic fundamentals about bamboo gardening. For additional ideas, check out our newer blog post: 10 More clumping bamboo species. The following article includes about 15 popular species of clumping bamboo. You can find a number of cold-hardy bamboos that can respect the boundaries and survive the snow of winter. Conversely, running bamboos generally do better in more temperate climates. Typically, clumping bamboos tend to come from tropical and subtropical climates. The attentive gardener will find that there are an abundance of clumping species that provide the beauty of bamboo without the risk of overtaking your neighborhood with invasive grass. Clumping bamboos offer all the grandeur of a noble grass without the nuisance of an invasive species. That’s why the more experienced gardeners choose to plant clumping bamboo. But many gardeners have come to dread bamboo, because some varieties will spread out of control and take over the whole garden, becoming almost impossible to remove. Bamboo has a rich history and thousands of uses. It’s a beautiful plant with tall, elegant canes and thick, leafy greenery. You can also grow bamboo plants in a pot – some compact varieties do well in large pots, while other ‘running bamboos’ are best grown in a container to prevent them from growing out of control.It’s easy to fall in love with bamboo.

Plant bamboo at the back of the border to create height, in your lawn to make a focal point, against a fence or wall to create a screen, or as a contemporary hedge. Feed with a balanced fertiliser throughout the growing season and allow some bamboo leaves to accumulate around the base of the plants, as they return nutrients, particularly silica, to the roots, helping the plants stay strong and healthy.īamboos can be grown in almost any situation. Plant your bamboo in spring to encourage it to develop good roots and canes before becoming dormant in autumn.

Most bamboos prefer sun but some species, such as Sasa bamboos, can be grown in shade. They can be grown in most soil types, but some do better in acid soil – avoid wet, boggy or dry conditions.

Most bamboos thrive in moist, well-drained soil. Running bamboos bear long underground stems, or rhizomes, from which new growth appears, enabling them to colonise new ground. There are two types of bamboo: clumping and running.

Best bamboo for screen shade container