This section highlights some of our favorite bamboo plant species. Many of them
are our top sellers and we felt, by listing them, it could simplify the
selection process for many who are new to bamboo. The Search Bamboo
section will also be helpful to filter through the many choices in our
complete inventory of bamboos.
Relatively small, upright bamboo, comparable to the smaller B.textilis cultivars. We have been test-growing this bamboo for several years and the projected maximum height is around 20'.
At first glance, it appears to be a type of B.textilis until you step back and notice the overall height is not as tall as expected. The culms are noticeably thicker with shorter internodes than a textilis at the same height. The culms are more compact, or contracted, hence the species name. When several are planted in a row, this species makes an excellent privacy screen. Spacing can be between 3'-5' apart, depending on the density wanted.
Min USDA zone: 9a. Click to find your zone.
Bambusa eutuldoides 'Viridivittata' - Asian Lemon Bamboo
Imported from China where it was highly coveted as an ornamental. Beautiful colors, frost tolerant. New yellow culms have pink and peach tones with green stripes. Established culms are yellow with green stripes. Can be planted in a row on 3' centers and trimmed into a stunning hedge.
Will grow to 25' with 1" dia. culms. Min. temp 21°F.
Min USDA zone: 8b. Click to find your zone.
Very dense and bushy. Perfect for creating a dense hedge, ideally trimmed up to 8' in height. It can easitly be kept to a lower height by trimming the tops. Untrimmed, it should reach 15'-18' tall. Creates a fantastic hedge to block out the neighbors or unsightly fence! Also works well in containers, as a patio plant. This bamboo has become a high-demand hedge plant in Australia. We expect the same in the sub-tropical areas of the USA.
Its native habitat is lowland valleys of Guangxi province southern China. These are set amongst Karst Mountains with deep gorges.
New import.
Min. temp reports vary, most between 24-28°F - it seems to be a true tropical to us and would likely suffer at temps below freezing. Min USDA zone: 9a. Click to find your zone.
A beautiful collector's bamboo. Culms emerge green and mature to a shiny black (almost purplish tint). Grows erect and arches at the top. Versatile in the landscape. Can be planted either as a specimen/focal point, in a row along a path/road/stream, or among other tropical foliage. From the Indonesian island of Timor.
Slightly open clumper. 35'-45' tall with up to 3" dia. culms. Min. temp 27°F. Min USDA zone 9b. Click to find your zone.
The culms are straight and form tight, dense clumps. This is a medium
sized bamboo that grows quickly to create a nice screen. Small leaves and thick-walled culms help make it one of the most storm tolerant of the tropical bamboos. Some claim that it's more salt tolerant than most bamboos - it certainly is the best choice if exposed to coastal winds.
35' tall and 2" dia. culms. Min. temp 20°F. Min USDA zone 9a. Click to find your zone.
The culms are straight and erect with relatively short branches forming fairly open clumps. A well-known, classic tropical bamboo. Can be found throughout the Disney parks.
In Florida, there are no low branches. In California, the species branches almost to the ground. Culm walls are thick, but soft. Shoots are edible but, until recently, it has been grown mostly as an ornamental in the USA. A shorter variety of B.oldhamii is available that is grown primarily for edible shoots (see listing below). Up to 55' tall and 4" dia. culms. Min. temp 24°F. Min USDA zone: 9a. Click to find your zone.
The smallest of the textilis cultivars. Was first located at Rockledge Gardens in central Florida. Will grow to 15'- 20' tall with the standard textilis upright form. Min USDA zone: 8b. Click to find your zone.
A beautiful all-green bamboo that's often planted in a row to create a privacy hedge or screen. Also makes a delicate focal point in the garden when planted as a single specimen. Foliage cascades gracefully with leaf tips pointing downward. This would be the ideal bamboo to plant as a screen in similar applications as Areca palms or ficus are used. For this type of application, they are planted in a row 3 to 5 feet apart. Spacing depends on how dense and how quickly you need your hedge.
About 23' - 27' tall with about 1" dia. culms.
Min. temp 15°F. Min USDA zone: 8b.
Click to find your zone.
Erect, thin-walled bamboo with persistent white powdery bloom at the nodes. Long internodes, small leaves, and graceful foliage. Very delicate - classic Asian appearance. A cultivar of Bambusa textilis.
30'-37' tall and 1.5" dia. culms. Min. temp 20°F.
Min USDA zone: 8b. Click to find your zone.
Bambusa vulgaris 'Vittata' - Golden Hawaiian Bamboo
Very popular and recognizable. The most common ornamental bamboo found in Hawaii. Golden yellow culms with green vertical stripes that look like drip marks.
This species has been in the continental U.S. for more than a decade and propagates relatively easily.
Will grow to 50' with 4" dia. culms. Min. temp 27°F. MIn USDA zone: 9b. Click to find your zone.
