Gardening Tips
Bamboo
November 2004
Facts and
Diversity
Member of the Grass Family
Used throughout the world for food, shelter, furniture, crafts, musical instruments
Produces sustainable crop in 5-10 years
Over 1,200 species in the world
Over 200 species hardy to Zone 6
Roughly 100 species will grow in Zone 5
Types
Tropical and Temperate
Running and Clumping
Our favorite reasons for growing bamboo
Drought tolerant
Deer resistant
Cold and heat tolerant
Variety of sizes
Great house plant
Looks cool
Genera -
Name Dropping
US Native
Arundinaria
- Canebreak
Giant Bamboo
Bambusa
- Hedge Bamboo
America’s Own
Chusquea
Mountain Clumpers
Fargesia
- Umbrella Bamboo
Unpronounceable
Hibanobambusa
Indocalamus
Timber Bamboo
Phyllostachys
- Black Bamboo
Shorter Ones
Pleioblastus
- Dwarf Fernleaf
Sasa
- Palm Leaf Bamboo
Sasaella
Shibataea
- Ruscus Leaf Bamboo
Culture
Seasons of Bamboo
Shooting
Leaving out
Rhizome spread
Conditions
Full shade to hot sun
Wet to dry
Irrigation
Fertilizer
Mulch
Containment
Cold weather/Drought
Bodies of water
Roads/Concrete
Mowing/Edging
Underground barriers
Stock tanks
Knowledge
Bamboo as a Potted Plant or Bonsai
Light conditions
Size of bamboo
Size of container
Water sensitivity
Bamboo and your pond
Call 479-253-7466 for more information on any of the new introductions reviewed in this article.
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