Bamboo fever is sweeping the nation. People want to use and grow those great grasses all over the world, from Cape Canaveral in Florida to Colorado and everywhere in between. In California and Florida, the states of seemingly endless, golden sunshine, growing bamboo is a no-brainer. On the other hand, it’s not so easy to grow tropical plants in New England or the Rocky Mountains. We actually get calls and emails from quite a few readers, wanting to know if it’s even possible. Can you grow bamboo in Colorado? And if so, where’s the best place to buy it?.
Yes, you can grow bamboo in Colorado. A lot of bamboo species are only found in the tropics and subtropics, but many types can survive a very cold winter. As a child, you might not grow up in a bamboo jungle at 10,400 feet in Leadville, but there are plenty of hardy bamboo that can handle temperatures as low as 0°F or even -20°F. Most of these cold hardy bamboos are of the running variety, with those famously vigorous roots. However, there are a handful of cold-friendly bamboos of the slower-spreading, clumping variety. You can grow some types of bamboo in your alpine garden even if you live in the Colorado Rockies, which are very high up.
This article, which was first published in September 2020 and was last updated in May 2024, will talk about some of the best types of bamboo to grow in Colorado. We’ll also help you find some places to buy bamboo in the Rocky Mountain State.
Bamboo is often associated with tropical locales like Hawaii and Southeast Asia. But did you know you can grow bamboo in Colorado’s cold climate too?
While not all bamboo varieties thrive in Colorado, several types will survive the winter with proper care Bamboo makes a beautiful and useful addition to Colorado gardens when planted right.
Why Grow Bamboo in Colorado?
There are many reasons to consider bamboo for your Colorado landscape
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Provides quick privacy screening and shelter from wind. Bamboo forms dense groves faster than most trees and shrubs.
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Adds unique tropical flair not common in Colorado gardens. The large tropical-looking leaves create an exotic feel.
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Makes a relaxing sound when wind rustles the leaves. This peaceful “white noise” effect is soothing.
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Cleans the air by producing more oxygen than most plants. A bamboo grove filters dust and pollution.
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Controls erosion on slopes and stream banks with its thick root mat. Bamboo’s web of roots stabilizes the soil.
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Provides useful material for crafts and construction. Bamboo can be split and woven or used structurally.
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Grows sustainably without need for replanting. Bamboo spreads rapidly when controlled properly.
With proper selection and care, Colorado gardeners can enjoy bamboo’s beauty and usefulness as a shelterbelt.
Best Bamboo Varieties for Colorado
There are over 1,000 species of bamboo, but only some tolerate Colorado’s climate extremes. Focus on these cold-hardy types:
Clumping Bamboo
Clumping bamboo varieties expand slowly in a compact form vs spreading uncontrolled. Good clumping choices include:
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Fargesia rufa – Hardy to -10°F. Grows 8-10 ft tall in vase-shaped clumps.
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Borinda fungosa – Hardy to 0°F. Culms reach 10-20 ft tall and are used for crafts.
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Chusquea culeou – Native to Chile and Argentina. Culms are thin but dense as it reaches 15 ft tall.
Running Bamboo
Running bamboo spreads aggressively via underground rhizomes. Containment is recommended:
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Phyllostachys aurea – Golden bamboo reaching 20 ft tall. Culms are 1-2 in diameter. Hardy to 0°F.
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Phyllostachys nuda – Hardy to -15°F. Culms grow quickly to 65 ft tall and 4 in diameter.
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Phyllostachys vivax – Culms reach 40 ft tall and 2-3 in diameter. Hardy to -10°F but may need winter protection.
Caring for Bamboo in Colorado
Bamboo needs some specialized care to survive Colorado’s climate:
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Amend soil – Mix in compost to improve drainage and nutrients in heavy clay soil before planting.
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Part shade – Bamboo prefers a few hours of sun but not full exposure. Provide some afternoon shade.
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Shelter from wind – Block cold winter winds which can damage bamboo’s stems and dry out soil.
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Mulch roots – Cover the soil around bamboo with 4-6 inches of bark chips to insulate roots from severe cold.
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Water sparingly – Bamboo prefers moist but well-drained soil. Take care not to overwater.
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Fertilize lightly – Feed with a balanced organic fertilizer once in early spring. Avoid high nitrogen products.
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Protect containers – Bring potted bamboo inside a shed or unheated garage over winter.
With a little extra care, it’s possible to create a tropical bamboo oasis in your Colorado yard!
Containing Running Bamboo
Aggressive running bamboo varieties must be contained or they will spread nonstop across your property. Here are ways to control spread:
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Plant in a pot sunk into the ground. Remove shoots that emerge from drain holes.
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Dig a rhizome barrier 2 ft deep around the perimeter, using concrete, plastic or metal.
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Frequently prune new shoots outside the planting area. New rhizomes usually emerge near shoots.
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Remove flowers before seeds develop, since birds can spread seeds extensively.
Consider clumping bamboo if you want to skip containment work. Or plant running bamboo well away from structures and fences where rhizome spread is acceptable.
Using Bamboo Around the Yard
Once established, bamboo provides ample material for crafts and decor:
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Use culms as garden stakes or trellises for vines and climbing plants.
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Weave strips into screens, mats and baskets for decoration or use.
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Make musical instruments like flutes or chimes from properly cured culms.
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Use mature bamboo poles as substitutes for wooden posts or boards in fences and structures.
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Cut bamboo into segments to line garden pathways or create raised beds and planters.
While somewhat tricky to grow in Colorado, bamboo rewards proper care with beauty, shade and versatility. Follow these tips to create a thriving bamboo oasis in your Colorado landscape.
Running bamboo in the cold
- Phyllostachys aureosulcata: The “yellow groove bamboo” is easy to spot because its dark green stems have a yellow stripe running through them. The shoots of a type of bamboo called “crookstem” sometimes grow in a zigzag pattern. The subspecies Spectabilis is even more beautiful, with its buttery yellow stems and wavy green stripes. Even in freezing temperatures, these varieties can grow up to 50 feet tall and are very pretty to look at. In places where it often gets below -10 or 15º F, though, it probably won’t grow taller than 10 feet.
- Phyllostachys heteroclada f. solida: This type of “water bamboo” is also known as “solid bamboo.” Few types of this plant have a solid stem instead of one that is hollow inside. Also, it can handle temperatures as low as -10o F, which is a bit more cold than regular water bamboo.
- Phyllostachys bissetii: It grows very densely and has a thick, bushy canopy. It can handle cold weather very well. The one-inch shoots will get about 20 feet tall. Hardy to at least -10o F, and with the right mulching, even -25o F
- Phyllostachys nuda: This is a beautiful and hardy species whose stems grow to be 25 to 30 feet tall and 1-2 inches wide. Young shoots look almost black and are very dark. As they grow, they turn a rich, dark green color and usually have pretty white rings around the culm nodes.
- Phyllostachys atrovaginata: This type is often called “incense bamboo” because it has a waxy covering that makes the stems smell great when they are hot or when they are rubbed. Many gardeners like how quickly his bamboo grows. The culms can be up to 40 feet tall and have a diameter of 3 inches or more. Good at temperatures as low as -10 or 15º F.
- This plant, Phyllostachys parvifolia, has rhizomes that do well in wet soil, just like water bamboo. It has thick, dark green stems that stand out because of their small leaves. The white rings around the nodes give them even more personality. People say that the fresh shoots of this type of plant taste great. It can grow shoots that are up to 40 feet tall, and it can handle temperatures as low as -15o F.
- Bashania fargesii: This plant is often used for privacy and windbreaks because its culms are thick, strong, and have lots of leaves. It also grows very quickly, so be careful! This species comes from the mountains in southern China and can handle temperatures as low as 0o F. With very long interodes, culms grow to be about 20 to 30 feet tall and 2 inches across.
- Indocalamus tessellatus is a unique type of low-growing bamboo that is also called “Giant leaf bamboo” because its leaves are the biggest of any species, measuring up to 2 feet long and 4 inches wide. But the plant itself is not so massive. This half-dwarf plant can get up to 10 feet tall and has culms that are half an inch thick. It’s often used to stop erosion, and it can handle temperatures as low as -10o F.
REMEMBER: If you’re planting running bamboo, like any Phyllostachys variety, always use a root barrier. Check out this Deep Root Barrier available from Amazon. Also check out this detailed article on bamboo containment practices.
Bamboo species for high altitudes
When you think of bamboo, you typically picture tropical jungles of Malaysia and Indonesia. But some types of bamboo also do very well on the Himalayas and Japan’s snowy mountains. So there’s no reason not to grow bamboo in Colorado.
If you’re imagining a bamboo grove surrounded by orchids and banana trees, you’ll have to adjust your expectations. Although bamboo can look quite stunning in an alpine setting as well. Consider an arrangement with Japanese maples and Mugo pines (dwarf mountain pines), or other conifers with especially short needles. Firs and spruce trees can look great alongside a towering stand of bamboo.
Even in the high elevations, there are enough choices of suitable bamboos. You can opt for prepossessing timber varieties, or the more compact dwarves and ground cover types. Just give your space a thorough evaluation before you get started. Most of the time, taller bamboos look good with taller trees, while shorter bamboos look better with smaller trees and shrubs.
Then you have to choose between running bamboos and clumping bamboos. Runners tend to be more cold-hardy, so you’ll have more options with runners. But they also have the potential to become invasive and spread out of control. This can be an unpleasant surprise to you (and your neighbors) a couple years down the road. Running bamboo can be a beautiful addition to the garden if you have the room for it and want a privacy hedge that will grow quickly.
If you’re afraid of invasion, however, or the scrutiny of your neighbors, you may prefer a clumping bamboo. (Some local ordinances and homeowners associations actually have rules against planting running bamboo. There aren’t as many cold-hardy clumpers to choose from, but as you can see from the list below, there are still a good number of them.
Cold hardy bamboo for chilly winters: Non tropical bamboo species
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