Bamboo FAQ & More Information

Frequently Asked Questions About Bamboo

How do you identify bamboo? There are a number of ways to ID different bamboos but one of the best is by looking at their shoots. With most plants a positive ID is made by looking at their flowers. Since bamboo flowers so infrequently this is not practical. The vast majority of the bamboos I grow are in the Phyllostachys genus. These all shoot in the spring and every species has shoots with a distinct look. They also shoot at different times during the spring so this also helps in identifying a particular species. The earliest shooting Phyllostachys I have is P.violescens. The first shoots appeared this year on about March 8. The next to shoot is P.h. pubescens (Moso bamboo).

Before sending me a photo or asking what kind of bamboo you have there are some things I will need to know. First, where are you located? How tall/big around is the bamboo? Are the canes entirely green or do they have some color? What size are the leaves? Are the leaves variegated? Are the canes smooth or rough? Do the canes grow spread out or close together in a clump?

Which bamboo is right for me? It all depends on what you want to do with the bamboo and where you live. Some bamboos are best for screens while others are ideal for specimen or display plants. Although most are very cold hardy you will need an extra cold hardy species if you live in a cold climate. When requesting information let me know your location and what your plans are for the bamboo. The best way to contact me is thru email or call me at 205-283-5638.

Clumping or running bamboo, what's this all about? Most clumpers are tropical or sub-tropical while most cold hardy bamboos are runners. The few cold hardy clumpers can't take the southern heat and only thrive in northern climates. I grow mostly runners along with a few clumpers that I place in the greenhouse every winter. Clumpers stay in nice tight clumps while runners can be very invasive. It's not this simple and you can find out more here. It is possible to control the spread of runners. Take a look here for information on controlling running bamboo.

What do you mean by 2 gallon or 3 gallon size plants? These represent the container size the plants are growing in now. Since all new growth comes from the rhizome/root system, the larger the container the faster you can expect large canes. Most of my plants are pruned to 48" for shipping and, depending on the species and container size, may contain one to several canes.

#2 size plant	9.5 inch container, 2 to 3 feet tall
#3 size plant	10.5 inch container, 4 to 5 feet tall
#5 size plant	11.5 inch container, 4 to 6 feet tall
Free Shipping on all bamboo plants!     Our prices include shipping.

How many plants are in a two gallon container? I get this question a lot. There is ONE plant in a container. There may be 1, 2, 3 or more canes but it is ONE plant! The canes are all connected underground by the rhizomes. You will be able to divide it after a year or so but if you do so now it will possibly kill the plant or at least set it back and void the warranty.

How many plants do I need to start a grove of bamboo? You can start a grove of giant bamboo with a single plant. For a screen along your property I recommend planting approximately every 5 feet. Most species will fill in nicely in about 3 years planted this distance. You can plant as close as you want if you are in a hurry or spread them out further to save money.

What is a "field specimen"? These are large plants with big rootballs that are wrapped in burlap. Depending on the species these can be 10 to 25 feet tall with rootballs 12 to 24 inches in diameter. These are often used to form an instant screen or grove.

How can I control running bamboos? Bamboo will not cross water, such as a pond or continuously flowing stream. You can also place underground barriers in it's path to control it's spread or grow it in containers. None of my bamboos have crossed a 10 foot paved driveway. We also have hard packed dirt roads throughout our property seperating different groves of bamboo. If the dirt road is well traveled the bamboo will not cross it. Here is more detailed information on controlling bamboo.

How many plants do I need? / How far apart should I space plants? In general about every 5 feet. However, you can plant closer or further depending on your budget and how fast you want a screen. If you simply want a grove to admire and walk through you can start with one plant, or perhaps 3, planted in a single area. With regular watering and fertilizing the grove will about double in size each year.

Can I grow bamboo from seed? Yes, if you can find bamboo seed! Bamboo only flowers and makes seed on rare ocassions. In some cases it may be 100 years or more between flowerings. Because of this it is not common to find bamboo seed available. Although seeds are more common in countries such as China, Japan, India, etc. these are not usually available in the United States because all live bamboo plants and seeds must go through a two year quarantine when imported here. We were able to obtain Moso Bamboo seed a couple of years ago and currently offer unique clones from that seed. With my groves of P.angusta and P.viridis flowering I hope to be lucky enough to collect seed from these species. Time will tell!

Is bamboo the fastest growing plant in the world? Perhaps.I suppose there may be faster growing plants but it's hard to imagine once you see new shoots come up in the spring. These can grow 24 to 36 inches or more in a 24 hour period. When bamboo shoots emerge from the ground in the spring they reach full size in just a couple of months time. This includes the giants. It is extraordinary to see a 4 to 5 inch diameter shoot burst from the ground and reach full height (60 feet or more) in just a few weeks. You can easily see the change in height each day. However, once a new culm (cane) reaches full size and leafs out it never grows any higher although it may live up to ten years or more. This means you can prune bamboo at the end of spring and not have to worry about pruning again until new shoots emerge the following year. The above facts often cause some confusion. If you plant a 2 gallon specimen of one of the giant bamboos, it will not send up full size canes the first spring. The bamboo has to form a grove and build up reserves over a few seasons, sending up larger and larger canes each spring. When the grove has reached a large enough size it will send up full size (giant) canes each spring.

Do I need to dig a really big hole to plant my bamboo? Many growers and gardeners tell you to dig a hole twice the size of the rootball. Recent research and practical experience has shown this is not necessary. In fact this can often cause some plants to become rootbound as the roots travel around the hole, staying in the backfill and taking their time about penetrating the surrounding soil. I've found that a hole just slightly larger than the rootball works best. If the soil is hard, or heavy with clay, use a pick to break up the sides of the hole to give a place for the roots to move outward.

Do I need to fertilize my bamboo? Fertilizing regularly (about 3 times a year at least) is probably the best way to get your bamboo to grow faster and bigger. I grow a lot of bamboo and it's easy to see the difference between the groves that are fertilized regularly and those that aren't. The first couple of years of a new planting is really crucial. I try to put down a couple of inches of composted horse manure in a circle around the new planting and cover with mulch. If you can't get compost then use a commercial fertilizer like 8-8-8 or 10-10-10. The best times to fertilize are in late winter, late spring, and mid summer and fall. I also try to water when we have a dry spell, it really helps to produce more and larger shoots in the spring. The best (and safest) way to fertilize is to place the fetilizer/manure/mulch on top of the soil after backfilling. I've done this with hundreds of plants (not just bamboo) and am always amazed at the results. So, although you don't "need" to fertilize your bamboo you will be much happier with it's growth if you do.

When is the best time to plant bamboo? Bamboo can be planted most anytime you can dig a hole. This means most anytime here in the southeast but not until the ground has thawed in colder climates. The very best time is probably very early spring. By planting then you will get to see new growth right away as new canes will emerge between early spring and summer. If planted after the bamboos have sent up new canes you wont' see much happening. However, the bamboo will be growing lots of roots and in mid to late summer the rhizomes will start spreading. These will extent anwhere from a few feet to many feet out from the original planting. These rhizomes will store energy from the bamboo canes and leaves. New canes will come from buds on the rhizomes.

Can I grow bamboo is a swampy or wet area? Many people believe that bamboo likes to grow in wet areas but for the most part this is not true. The majority of bamboos will not survive if the roots stay wet. However, they will do very well if planted next to water or a wet area. Bamboo loves water, it just doesn't like to have wet feet.

Can I grow bamboo in the shade? Most bamboos prefer a few hours to full sun. Many will grow in partial sun/shade but the giants really like a lot of sun. A few species will grow in almost full shade. At least one bamboo (Giant Leaf Bamboo) will grow in full shade. I have a couple groves of this planted under trees where there is no direct sun.

Help, my bamboo is out of control and taking over, what can I do? Running bamboos can be agressive and very invasive in some cases. To control your running bamboo you need to know a little about it's habits. You can find info about running bamboo and how to control it here.

I live in a very cold climate, can I grow bamboo? Yes, you can! Most all of the bamboos I sell are cold hardy down to about zero and several are hardy to well below zero. You can find pictures and descriptions of the more cold hardy species here. Several are hardy down to -10 to -15. This means they will stay green and leafy down to those temperatures. Once the grove is well established it can survive even colder temperatures. It may suffer top kill but the roots can survive and send up new canes in the spring. Planting in a protected area and mulching heavily will help.

Do you offer tours of the nursery? Most of our business is retail mail order. There is no minimum purchase for mail order. For visits to the nursery there is a $150 minimum purchase. If you want to see large groves of mature bamboo please call to arrange a visit. 205 283 5638 We have a large selection of shipping size plants as well as much larger plants in 5, 10, 15 gallon and larger sizes. We also have the more popular bamboos available in field dug, balled and burlaped sizes.

Do you sell Lucky bamboo? No! This popular plant is not a true bamboo, it's not even related! It is a type of tropical house plant called Dracena. It does look a little like bamboo, but it's not. If you do a search for "Lucky Bamboo" you can find lots of information on the web.

Glossary of Bamboo Terms

Aurea - Golden

Arundinaria - bamboo genus distinguished by erect, smooth culms that are round in cross section. They do not have the groove or "sulcis" of the Phyllostachys genus. Culm sheaths are persistent.

Auricle - an earlike growth on on culm sheaths

Bloom - white deposit on new culms of bamboo.

Calamus - reed

Chimonobambusa - bamboo genus named for the fact it shoots in late fall or winter (Greek -cheimon -winter)

Clone - group of cultivated plants reproduced from one original plant by vegetative means

Culm - bamboo cane.

Culm Sheath - a protective covering on bamboo culms, attached at each node.

Edulis - edible

Flexuosus - zigzag or bending

Glabrous - smooth, without hairs

Glaucous - dull, bluish green

Gramineus - grasslike

Internode - a segment of culm or rhizome between nodes

Ligule - a protective lip or rim at the tip of a culm sheath where the sheath blade attaches

Monopodal - describes the long rhizome of running (temperate) bamboos

Node - This is the joint (partition or diaphram) between the hollow segments of a bamboo culm or rhizome

Oral setae - these are the hairs on auricles of culm sheaths

Persistent - used to describe culm sheaths that remain in place after a culm has matured

Phyllostachys - a bamboo genus with distinct grooves (sulcis) on the culms

P.I. - plant introduction number assigned by USDA

Pubescens - hairy

Pygmaeus - dwarf, very small

Rhizome - this is root-like underground stem. These store food and have buds from which new culms emerge above ground.

Sheath - see Culm Sheath above

Shoot - a young, new culm. As new culms emerge from the ground they are called "shoots"

Sulcis - the groove on the culms(canes) of species in the Phyllostachys genus.

Sympodal - clumping bamboo rhizomes

Viridi-glaucescens - bluish green

Viridis - green

Plants Mistaken for Bamboo

Lucky Bamboo - Dracaena sanderiana
Oh man I'm sorry this plant was ever introduced to this country. I have received many emails asking about how to care for this plant. I used to answer but it has become such a burden that I'm sorry to say I usually just delete them now. This plant has some resemblance to bamboo with a jointed stem but is not a bamboo. It is usually grown in a container of water with pebbles. Itis often seen in Asian restaurants. It is now available in Wal-Mart, Lowe's, Home Depot, flea markets - you name it. If you do a search for Lucky Bamboo you will be overwhelmed with the number of results.

Japanese Knotweed - Polygonum cuspidatum (sometimes known as Mexican Bamboo)
Japanese Knotweed is a perennial that spreads by rhizomes. It has stems that are jointed somewhat like bamboo. This, along with it's rapid spread is probably why it is sometimes mistaken for bamboo. However, it has heart shaped leaves and creamy white flowers. It can reach 5 to 10 feet in heigth and produces new canes each spring forming a dense thicket. The dead stems and leaves decompose slowly and form a thick mulch which, along with the dense growth, prevent other plant seeds from germinating. The rhizomes can spread up to 20 feet from the parent plant and as deep as 8 feet. It forms a rapidly spreading mono-culture and is considered an invasive pest. It can reproduce from very small pieces of the rhizome or fresh stems. You can find lots of information about this plant by doing a search for Japanese Knotweed. Here are a few links.
Plant Conservation Alliance
USDA National Invasive Species Informataion Center
The Nature Conservancy

Heavenly Bamboo - Nandina domestica
I'm not sure why this plant is sometimes mistaken for bamboo. It has woody stems, white flowers, and red berries in the fall. I suppose the very erect, straight stems are the reason but they are not jointed and are usually brown and woody looking. A nice shrub but not realated to bamboo.

Giant Reed - Arundo donax
This plant has canes much like bamboo but the leaves are long and tapered and attach directly to the canes(not to limbs that attach to cane). The canes will easily sprout new plants from the nodes and the rhizomes are easily divided to produce new plants. I've had this growing beside a pond and canes that fall over into the water routinely sprout new plants at each node on the cane. It has become a pest in many areas and has invaded many rivers in California. It has a large seed head at the end of each growing season. The canes are used to make reeds for musical instruments and the variegated form makes a pretty landscape plant.

Horsetail - Equisetum hyemale
The stems of this plant superficially resemble bamboo due to colored bands that appear to be nodes, much like a bamboo cane. It grows in wet areas and makes a pretty addition to a water garden or bog. It is often called the Scouring Rush as it's high silica content make it ideal for scrubbing pans and polishing metal. This plant has also become an invasive pest in many parts of California. It is sold in most nurseries in the water garden section. I have both a dwarf form and a very large form growing beside my pond.

Bamboo Palm
The Bamboo Palm(Chamaedorea seifritzii or C. erumpens) is sometimes mistaken for bamboo. Probably because the stems have white stripes thatresemble bamboo's nodes.

Bamboo Images

On the left is a mature grove of Hibanobambusa tranquilans. Most canes are 12 to 15 feet tall. This is an agressive runner. On the right is a young grove of P.aureosulcata 'Spectabilis'. These yellow canes with green grooves is one of the prettier bamboos. It is also extremely cold hardy.
     

Below is a grove of P.aureosulcata (left) that is being cleaned of old and dead canes. On the right is a small patch of P.discichus with our dog "Cowboy" looking for his ball.
  

The leaf below is form Fernleaf bamboo. This little groundcover gets about 24 inches tall with fan like leaves giving it a fernlike appearance. On the right is P.gramineaus. This is a great screening bamboo with canes up to 16 feet inheigth.
 

Below, on the left is a small patch of P.kongosenensis. This little grove always gets very ragged looking each winter and I mow it to the ground in February. It comes back with lots of lush new growth each spring. On the right is a grove of P.n.Megurochiku (Black Stripe Bamboo). This grove is about 8 years old and has a few 3 inch canes now. The black stripe is not very prominent. The canes have the gray look of P.n.Henon.
    

On the left below is a nice grove of Pygmy bamboo. It averages about 12 to 15 inches in height. I've controlled it over the last several years by mowing around it. However, it is spreading into the surround lawn even with mowing. The dogs love to lay in this bamboo. On the right is Dwarf Greenstripe bamboo (P.viridistriatus)The new growth in spring is almost neon green.

 

The leaves below are from the Dwarf Greenstripe bamboo. Notice the nice variegation of the leaves. It's easy to see why this bamboo is called Greenstripe. On the right is another "greenstripe". This one is Green Stripe Vivax (P.v.aureocaulis). This is one of the largest cold hardy bamboos. I love the yellow canes with lots of green stripes. My 7 year old grove has a few 2 inch or slightly larger canes.
        

 

Below on the left is another grove of Dwarf Greenstripe beside my driveway. Directly across from this grove is the same bamboo without the green stripes. (P.v. Chrysophyllus) (picture on the right)

     

 

These two pictures are of Robert Young bamboo. On the left you can see some canes that are only a few months old. They haven't turned yellow like the ones in the back have. It usually takes about 6 months for Robert Young colors up nicely. On the right is a grove I recently drove by. This is one of the prettiest bamboos I grow. I have a large grove along my driveway and it always provokes more comments than most any of the other bamboos on the farm.

     

 

Below you can see the semi-persistent culm sheaths. This is S.fastuosa, often called Temple bamboo. These sheaths are protective covers over each section (internode) of the new canes. On most bamboos they fall off right away but on this bamboo they hang on for several months. On a few bamboos the sheaths don't drop at all. On the right is a nice little grove of S.kumasaza - Ruscus bamboo. Notice allthe new little canes that are shooting.

    

 

This little bamboo is S.m.albostriata. It has some of the prettiest variagation of any bamboo with creamy white stripes on the green leaves. This bamboo can get ot almost 6 feet. Planted along my driveway it often gets ratty looking before winter is over. Last year I mowed the entire grove down to about 6 to 8 inches. It came back strong inthe spring with lots of bright, new growth. It only got to about 18 inches this year. I'll leave it alone this winter so it will likely send up some 2 to 3 foot growth this spring.

    

 

On the left below is Sasa palmata. Notice how the leaves on this bamboo spread out like a fan or "palm".It will grow in fairly low light levels. On the right is a close-up of S. kurilensis 'Simofuri'. I knew I had to have this bamboo the first time I saw it. I have a lot of variegated plants, both bamboos and others and I've never seen variagation like this. It looks almost like a brush with white paint has lightly brushed the leaf.

    

Phyllostachys aurea - Golden bamboo, fishcane bamboo. These distorted or compacted nodes at the base of the cane is a very distinct characteristic of this species. It is probably the most common bamboo here in the southeast.

Left to right above. S.fastuosa has semi-permanent sheats. My largest Moso cane is nearly 8 inches in diameter at the base. This little groundcover is P.distichus. Although it gets about 8 to 12 inches in heigth this little patch has been mowed to about 2 inches and if growing just fine.

More pitctures added 2/24/07

Above This grove of P.v.Robert Young is on the back side of the dam as you come down the hill into our nursery. Above is a grove of P.aureosulcata, Yellow Groove. That little clump in front is Green Onion bamboo (P.j.Tsutsumana). Most of our drive is lines with bamoo along both sides.