Bamboo is one of the hardiest fastest growing plants on the planet. While many people associate it with being the famed food of pandas, bamboo is enjoying a boom. Bamboo is an important and environmentally friendly plant that can be used for many things, such as food, medicine, building materials, and even as a fiber for making clothes. In reality, bamboo is not a single plant. It is a perennial type of plant with more than a thousand different species belonging to three different communities. There are many kinds of bamboo, and each has its own feel. Some are used for decoration, while others are usually used instead of wood. Some indoor bamboo plants are also beautifully beneficial for health and the feng shui of the home. You can read about all the different types of bamboo plants here. We also draw some of our favorite species and talk about what you should look for in a perfect bamboo plant.
There are two main types of bamboo plants that each species can be categorized into. These are clumping and running. To help you learn more about bamboo, let’s look at these two types and what they mean.
The name clumping bamboo is a less formal way of saying its true type name – Sympodial. This kind of bamboo looks closer to grass as it often grows in large clumps. You can plant it, and it will stay pretty cool in clumps that won’t spread out all over your garden. This kind of bamboo can be popular as an ornamental species as it is easier to control.
The running bamboo (also called the monopodial type) can take over your whole garden if you don’t stop it. It has a hardy root system called rhizomes that sends out new shoots all over the place. You can tame running bamboo, or at least keep it from getting out of hand and taking over the whole neighborhood. But it will take a little more care and precision than with clumping bamboo to keep it under control.
When choosing bamboo it’s important to select the right species and variety for your USDA planting zone. Factors like maximum height spread rate, and sunlight requirements should also guide your choice. To help narrow down the options, here is an overview of 15 popular types of bamboo plants.
Hardy Running Bamboos
Hardy running bamboos spread through rhizomes underground and are considered invasive But their tall heights and screening abilities make them useful for privacy or as specimen plants,
1. Black Bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra)
Black bamboo features olive green to jet black culms and thick foliage. It can reach 15-25 feet tall. Hardy in zones 7-11.
2. Buddha Belly Bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris ‘Wamin’)
Named for its swollen lower nodes, Buddha belly bamboo forms vase-shaped clumps up to 20 feet tall. Hardy to zone 8.
3. Moso Bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis)
A giant timber bamboo used for flooring and furniture. Culms reach 40-70 feet tall. Hardy in zones 5-10.
4. Dragon Bamboo (Dendrocalamus asper)
Dramatic, very large tropical bamboo reaching 80+ feet tall. Clumps spread to 50 feet wide. For zone 9-12.
Clumping Bamboos
Unlike running bamboos, clumpers expand slowly outward instead of spreading aggressively via rhizomes. They are easier to control.
5. Umbrella Bamboo (Fargesia murielae)
Graceful foliage and arching 10-14 foot canes give this bamboo its common name. Hardy in zones 5-9.
6. Alphonse Karr Bamboo (Bambusa multiplex ‘Alphonse Karr’)
Yellow culms striped with green make a bold statement. Grows in clumps to 30 feet tall. Zone 8-10.
7. Asian Lemon Bamboo (Bambusa eutuldoides ‘Viridivittata’)
Tropical clumper with bright yellow and green striped culms to 25 feet. For zones 9-11.
8. Tortoise Shell Bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis ‘Heterocycla’)
Rare running bamboo with mottled culms. Grows 15-25 feet tall. Hardy to zone 7.
Dwarf and Compact Bamboos
For small gardens or containers, choose a dwarf bamboo that only reaches a few feet tall at maturity.
9. Golden Goddess Bamboo (Yushania anceps ‘Aureocaulis’)
A compact clumper that grows just 3-5 feet tall with vivid yellow culms in full sun. Zone 6-9.
10. Dwarf White-Striped Bamboo (Pleioblastus fortunei var. vittata)
Green and white striped culms on this petite clumping bamboo. Just 3-4 feet tall. Hardy to zone 5.
11. Pygmy Bamboo (Bambusa pygmaea ‘Arabella’)
One of the smallest bamboos, Arabella forms tidy 2 foot mounds. Great for containers. Zone 8-11.
Variegated Bamboos
Add a pop of color to shady areas with bamboos that have yellow, white or red-splashed foliage.
12. Red Bamboo (Phyllostachys sp. ‘Atrovaginata’)
Red stems and blush-tinted new shoots. Fast growing to 15-25 feet. Hardy in zones 7-10.
13. Harlequin Bamboo (Shibataea kumasaca ‘Jitsugetsu’)
Showy green and creamy yellow striped leaves. Clumping habit to 15 feet tall. Zone 5-9.
14. Silverstripe Bamboo (Bambusa multiplex ‘Silverstripe’)
Dwarf variegated clumper featuring yellow culms striped with green. Just 6-8 feet tall. Zone 8-10.
15. Fernleaf Bamboo (Shibataea kumasaca ‘Aureonebulosa’)
Delicate, fern-like leaves emerge chartreuse before fading to green. Zone 5-9.
With so many types of bamboo to choose from, you can find one perfect for practically any landscape need or gardening zone. Clumpers make ideal specimen plants while spreading bamboos work well for screening. Compact bamboos are perfectly suited to container growing. Just be sure to choose the appropriate bamboo species for your climate and space. With the right selection, bamboo can make a gorgeous and useful addition to any garden.
What are the three types of bamboo?
Olyreae is herbaceous bamboo, Bambuseae is woody bamboo, and Arundinarieae is temperate woody bamboo.
Germplasm and genetic resources
When choosing the right bamboo plant for a space, you should also think about how easy it is to find and how much conversation you want to have with it.
Speaking of the environment, this is another leading factor when choosing the bamboo species. Some bamboo will thrive in wetlands whereas others may need a drier set-up. Some can bring nutrients back to depleted soil and others can grow well even on mountain slopes. The environment and agroecology should also be taken into account.
Choosing a bamboo variety | Volunteer Gardener
FAQ
How do I know which type of bamboo I have?
How many types of bamboo plants are there?
Which bamboo is best for home?
What is the most popular bamboo species?
How many types of bamboo are there?
Bamboos (subfamily Bambusoideae) are among the broad-leaved grasses ( Poaceae) associated with forest habitats that diversified into woody stemmed plants. For gardeners, there are around 500 species, subspecies, varieties, and cultivars of bamboo suitable to grow in the United States and Canada. Here are 15 types of bamboo to grow in your garden.
How do you categorize bamboo plants?
Obviously, we can also categorize bamboo plants by their height. Tall bamboo types are often used for timber. Some plants are as short as 2-4 inches (5-10 cm), whichis great for groundcovering purposes. This is how we divide bamboo plants by size: While researching the best bamboo plant for your needs, you’ll see different height indications.
How many types of bamboo can you grow in your garden?
Here are 15 types of bamboo to grow in your garden. Tortoiseshell Bamboo ( Phyllostachys edulis var. heterocycla) is called Kikkou-chiku in Japan and is used in traditional crafts including floor pillars and flower vases. The rare bamboo can reach up to four inches wide with the nodes most prominent at the base of the plant.
What is a good bamboo plant?
The Black Pearl variety has stunning dark purple, almost black canes. A low-growing, slow-growing bamboo which gives color all year round with slender green canes. Shibataea kumasaca is a dwarf variety that will grow in nice dense clumps. If you want a bamboo houseplant this is a great choice.
