This section lists the tropical bamboo plant varieties we have in production. They
are all tropical, or sub-tropical, clumping bamboos and are generally not
cold-hardy like the temperate, running bamboos. Some, the sub-tropicals, can
tolerate freezing temperatures for short periods. Check the minimum
temperatures listed on each species description as a guideline for which
species can grow unprotected in your area.
Use our Search Bamboo page to find something specific.
A dwarf form of B. multiplex Riviereorum with leaves often less than 1/4" long. Can grow to 3' tall with 1/8" diameter culms. Minimum temp. 18 degrees F. Min USDA zone: 8b.<Click here to find zone
Culms droop or arch strongly with small, narrow leaves. Can grow to 20' tall with 3/4" diameter culms. Minimum temp. 16 degrees F. Min USDA zone: 8b Click here to find zone
From Thailand. Nutans means "nodding" which the culms do. May grow 25' tall, with 1" diameter culms in Florida. Usually smaller. Cold-hardy to 28 degrees F. Min USDA zone: 9b. Click here to find zone
Considered similar to B. oldhamii, but highly prized for edible shoots due to its crisp flesh, similar to Asian pears. Produced mainly in Taitung and Hualian and consumed fresh. Grows to 30' with up to 2" diameter thick-walled culms.
Formerly Bambusa edulis. Click here to find 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 Bambusa oldhamii 'Dr.Lu'/Shoot Production Strain). Up to 55' tall and 4" dia. culms. Min. temp 24F. Min USDA zone: 9a.Click here to find zone.
Bambusa oldhamii f. striata - Striped Oldham's Bamboo*New
In early 2012, we found this beautiful bamboo growing in Hua'an, China and attempted to import it via the USDA. That small propagule did not survive the stress of international travel. I revisited this area of China in 2018 and, once again attempted to import this unique form of Bambusa oldhamii. This time, we succeeded and the imported specimen has passed pathogen testing. It should be released to us from USDA quarantine by 2020 - a full seven years from initial discovery to arrival in Florida.
Our single imported specimen did start to flower in quarantine in March/2019. It seemed to have been stress-induced. We instructed the personnel at the USDA/APHIS facility to cut off all of the flowers and to fertilize. This seemed to be effective as new shoots emerged from the potting soil within a few weeks.
UPDATE: As of 2021 our single specimen in USDA quarantine has completely defoliated but still has green culms. If it doesn't produce new growth the bamboo will not survive. We're not optimistic and are already planning a third collection trip to the same location where this bamboo was found.
This bamboo variety seems to grow a bit smaller that the standard form of B.oldhamii - it will take time to confirm mature dimensions once planted at our nursery.
(Likely) Up to 45' tall and 3" dia. culms. Min. temp 24�F. Min USDA zone: 9a. Click to find your zone.
Not officially identified as a cultivar of B.oldhamii. It certainly resembles oldhamii. Some people feel it's superior as a landscape specimen and for construction material. Very rare in the mainland of the United States.
A timber bamboo, which was said to be brought to Hawaii from India. When first planted in Hawaii it grew to 6" in diameter with thick walls. The original five plants all seeded and died, producing only one seed that germinated. From that seed, this current strain, now grows to 5" in diameter.
Some of the culm sections are oval but most are round. Very straight culms and reach 60'- 70' tall with thin, strong walls and long internodes. Min USDA zone 9a. Click here to find zone.
Per Dieter Ohrnberger: Chiefly cultivated in central and northern Thailand. In 2009, it became known that a plantation with plants of the shoot production strain existed in southern California, U.S.A.; the plants came from Taiwan and were growing on land leased by a restaurant owner called Dr. Lu. The land lease was lost and the bamboos were to be destroyed. We were able to bring some of these bamboos to our nursery and, until we learned their identity, referred to them as Bambusa sp. Dr. Lu.
This strain of B.oldhami is now in propagation at Tropical Bamboo Nursery. These is some discussion that it may be the true Bambusa oldhamii. It grows to about 1/2 the overall mature height (30') of the ornamental strain of B.oldhami.
Click here for more details
Min. temp 24F. Min USDA zone: 9a. Click here to find zone.
Densely clumping with thick-walled, glossy green culms. Tight clump with fairly small leaves - should make a nice privacy screen for areas with limited space. Somewhat rare at this time.
Will grow to 30' tall with 1.5" diameter culms in Florida. Minimum temp. 30 degrees F. Min USDA zone: 9b. Click to find your zone.
Medium size with yellowish culms. It resembles B.textilis. A nice privacy screening bamboo with good cold-hardiness for a tropical clumper. Grows to 25' with 1.5" diameter thick-walled culms. Min USDA zone: 9a. Click here to find zone
Bambusa pachinensis var. hirsutissima - Hairy Pachi Bamboo*New
Similar to the standard form of B.pachinensis. A distinguishing feature is long, hairy bristles on the culm sheath ligule apexes as well as tufts of bristles on the leaf auricles. A nice privacy screening bamboo with good cold-hardiness for a tropical clumper. Min USDA zone: 9a. Click to find your zone.
This is the common, all green form of pervariabilis. It features the same dense clump pattern, branching, and leaf size as the yellow-culmed pervariabilis viridistriata but, in Florida, does not grow as large overall. Will grow to 30' tall with 1.5" diameter culms. Minimum temp. 21 degrees F. Min USDA zone: 9a.Click here to find zone
Unbelievably striking specimen. Low branching but can easily be groomed to fully reveal lower culms, if desired (as pictured).
New shoots have green stripes on a cream background maturing to yellow with varying dark green stripes. Will grow to 45' with 2.5" dia. culms. Min. temp 21F.
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Min USDA zone:8b. Click here to find zone
Bambusa pervariabilis x Dendrocalamopsis daii #3*New
One of several hybrid bamboos that caught our interest in China. Several bamboo species were forced into flower and cross-pollinated by Professor Zhang Guangchu (Guangdong Forestry Research Institute). Some hybrids exhibited ornamental qualities and, with some, we've begun the importation process.
This combination produced several, numbered, offspring. We've imported the top two, #3 and #8. Hybrid #3 is larger than #8, has dark green culms, and brown fur on the culm sheaths. Hybrid #8 is somewhat smaller, lime green culms with little to no brown hairs on the culm sheaths. Imported from China in July/2012 and released to us by the USDA in mid 2013.
Will grow to at least 35' tall with 2" - diameter culms. Click here to find zone
Bambusa pervariabilis x Dendrocalamopsis daii #8*New
One of several hybrid bamboos that caught our interest in China. Several bamboo species were forced into flower and cross-pollinated by Professor Zhang Guangchu (Guangdong Forestry Research Institute). Some hybrids exhibited ornamental qualities and, with some, we've begun the importation process.
This combination produced several, numbered, offspring. We've imported the top two, #3 and #8. Hybrid #3 is larger than #8, has dark green culms, and brown fur on the culm sheaths. Hybrid #8 is somewhat smaller, lime green culms with little to no brown hairs on the culm sheaths.. Imported from China in July/2012 and released to us by the USDA in mid 2013.
Will grow to at least 25' tall with 1" - diameter culms. Click here to find zone
