You Can Easily Grow Bamboo In Your Garden—Here's How
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If you are looking for a tall, quick-to-establish ornamental grass to provide privacy or control erosion in a large landscape, you might consider growing bamboo. Common bamboo is a widely cultivated, clump-forming species that is incredibly fast-growing.
This easily recognizable type of bamboo featuring attractive, erect, hollow canes with distinct nodes and stripes of green and yellow can reach over 50 feet when conditions are right. Common bamboo can grow in full sun or partial shade and needs warm, moist conditions to thrive.
While bamboo shoots are sometimes eaten after cooking, raw bamboo can be toxic. If you have curious kids, kitties, or canines, it is best to keep them away from bamboo growing in your yard.
Common Name | Common bamboo, Feathery bamboo |
Botanical Name | Bambusa vulgaris |
Family | Poaceae |
Plant Type | Perennial, Evergreen |
Mature Size | 50 to 65 ft. tall |
Sun Exposure | Full, Partial |
Soil Type | Moist, Well-drained |
Soil pH | Acidic, Neutral |
Hardiness Zones | 9-12 (USDA) |
Native Area | Asia |
Toxicity | Toxic to people and animals |
Common Bamboo Care
The ideal growing conditions for this bamboo are as follows:
Plant in fertile, well-draining soil.
Position in full sun or part shade location.
Water to provide even moisture—this plant doesn’t appreciate wet feet.
Fertilize in spring and summer to promote vigorous growth.
Light
Common bamboo does well in full sun or partial shade. If temperatures are on the higher side, a respite from the intense afternoon sun is preferable.
However, too much shade means the distinctive nodes won’t develop well and the plant can be weak and spindly, and more likely to break as it stretches to reach available light.
Soil
Common bamboo can handle a variety of soils, provided they are well-drained. A fertile, humus soil rich in organic matter promotes the best growth. This species also prefers acidic to neutral pH levels.
Water
Common bamboo prefers consistently moist soils and grows best in regions with high annual rainfall, although it isn’t a fan of standing water. It can tolerate periods of drought once established, although the bamboo’s leaves will turn yellow, and if the dry spell lasts too long, the plant will lose all its foliage.
Temperature and Humidity
Common bamboo prefers warm, humid conditions, like those of its Southeast Asian native habitat. While this species is slightly more cold-tolerant than some tropical bamboo species, it's still best reserved for growing in states with mild year-round temperatures.
These plants may be able to handle temperatures as low as 27°F for very short snaps (although the stems may die back to the ground), but they grow best when daytime temperatures range between 70°F and 85°F.
Fertilizer
Fertilizing your common bamboo can significantly increase the speed of growth and vigor of this hungry plant.
Amending soil with nitrogen-rich organic matter via manure or compost (such as mushroom compost) can offer a beneficial boost in the spring and summer. Some bamboo enthusiasts apply chemical fertilizers suitable for ornamental grasses in early spring and mid-summer.
Types of Common Bamboo
There are three main Bambusa vulgaris subspecies:
Bambusa vulgaris: The main species featuring predominantly green stems.
Bambusa vulgaris var. Striata (or Bumbusa vulgaris ‘Vittata’): Sometimes referred to as painted bamboo, this features thick, strong, stripey yellow cane walls and tends to grow slightly shorter than the main species.
Bambusa vulgaris var. wamin: Features bulbous nodes on the canes and a much more compact form than the main species. While sometimes referred to as Buddha’s belly, it shouldn’t be confused with Bumbusa ventricosa, which goes by the common name Buddha Belly bamboo.
Pruning
Pruning common bamboo isn’t necessary if you are happy with a bushy, spreading, slightly disheveled form.
However, annual thinning of established bamboo privacy hedges keeps them tidy, prevents problematic encroachment onto other plants, and removes old, damaged, or dying stems. Once your bamboo is established, maintain six to 10 main stems per clump to keep a neat form.
Propagating Common Bamboo
Flowering is very rare with common bamboo, and the species doesn’t normally produce seeds, so it isn’t typically possible to grow the plant using this method. Fortunately, it is easy to propagate common bamboo through branch cuttings or clump division.
Propagating by Division
The steps below will help guide you through the successful propagation of common bamboo through division.
Water the roots of the mother plant deeply the day before division. When dividing, you want the soil to be damp but not soaked to help prevent transplant shock.
Divide a healthy, young clump, removing at least three canes from the mother plant or separating the offshoots growing at the outer edge of the main clump.
For a heavily rootbound bamboo plant, divide the plant into two to four sections (depending on the plant size) before replanting each part.
Use sharp, sterile pruning shears, a spade, or a saw to separate the rhizomes. Work carefully to minimize root disturbance.
Trim the divided canes down so there will still be three exposed nodes above the soil line once planted.
You can plant large cuttings directly in their outside location. However, it’s best to start by planting cuttings in a container with well-draining potting soil in a warm spot that receives bright but indirect light.
Keep the division evenly moist.
If the division is in a container, it should be ready to transplant to its permanent location after a couple of months.
Propagating by Culm Cuttings
The steps below will help guide you to the successful propagation of common bamboo through culm cuttings.
Select a healthy cane that is at least a few years old and cut it below the node above the soil line using a sharp, sterile saw.
Cut the cane into sections with two or three nodes on each.
Applying rooting hormone to the base of the cuttings is an optional step that can help the plant to take root successfully.
Plant the cuttings in a pot containing a well-draining, loamy potting mix. When planting vertically, ensure the bottom node is fully covered with soil. If planting horizontally, completely cover the cutting in soil. Horizontal planting tends to produce better results.
Position in a warm, humid, sheltered location with access to bright but indirect light.
Keep the soil evenly moist.
Roots should only take around four weeks to develop, and new growth will appear above the soil line shortly after.
Keep the cuttings in a pot for an entire growing season (or around 10 months) before transplanting to the permanent location.
Common Pests and Plant Diseases
Common bamboo is a vigorous species that isn’t overly bothered by pests and serious diseases when planted. Some pests, such as small bamboo borer (Dinoderus minutus), can be a problem, but these affect harvested plants rather than those in the ground.
Leaf blight, leaf spot, and leaf rust can cause foliage discoloration and death. However, early fungicidal treatment and removal of affected plant parts can keep these problems under control.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take for common bamboo to grow?
Common bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plant species on the planet. It grows especially rapidly in the first five years of planting, reaching heights of as much as 25 feet when conditions and care are optimal. After year six, growth rates slow somewhat. Mature common bamboo clumps can produce up to four new stems annually.
Does common bamboo bloom?
It is possible for mature bamboo plants to bloom, but it is incredibly rare. Some research suggests the flowering cycle is every 80 years. You are unlikely to see this happening on standard common bamboo in home landscapes. If it does occur, there is a long bloom period of one to three years and then the stems usually die afterwards. There is no fruit production after flowering, so the plant cannot be grown from seed.
Is common bamboo invasive?
Common bamboo isn’t listed as invasive in North America, and clumping bamboos are less weedy than running varieties. However, this fast-spreading clumping variety can form dense thickets in optimal conditions. A recommended tall native species to consider planting in its place is the giant cane (Arundinaria gigantea), or go with a plant that looks like bamboo but isn’t, like lucky bamboo.
Read the original article on The Spruce.
