Have 3 ('Li', 'Lang', and 'Sherwood'), getting on 10 years old in southern New Jersey, ordinary suburban fill soil, USDA Zone 6A. Sure, they send out lateral roots which sucker, (especially when they hit a sidewalk or street) but just prune to base periodically or mow over them. No problem unless you leave them a few years to get woody! And, jujube is perhaps the most trouble-free of my exotic fruit trees, no fungi, viruses, bacterial problems. An occasional fruit has a tiny borer worm (I pit and dry most of my fruit), that's about it. And greatly visited by small bees when in bloom! That, and harvest by gently shaking the trunks. What more could you want in a fruit tree? Although Chinese jujube are fine in moderate rainfall temperate climate, they really shine in desert conditions, just covered with huge, sweet fruit (have seen in Las Vegas and Tuscon). Other jujubes (spina-christi, mauritiana, etc.) better in hotter or tropical climes, I think.

Phyllostachys vivax It is an aggressive, non-stop running bamboo. Good to 112-114. Lost a few leaves at 118. I'm in arizona with low humidity. Hot hot sun. Got down to 12 last year. Vivax ignored all of cold and heat. Spreads faster with lots of water. Will spread low and bushy first three years, then pops up some nice culms. Hears it is the fastest maturing (big culms) bamboo. From a one gallon plant, it went seven feet high and 40 odd culms in one year. Second year popped to ten feet. Rhizomes going out in every direction. We call it the borg plant because it assimilates EVERYTHING. My two cents. Toto

Thank you Nucci. BBoy, I dont want anything taller than 12'. I still need sun in my yard, lol. I just want to know, from others experiences which Fargesia would be best for my situation. I need a privacy screen, but not over 12'. These will run along a 6' stockade fence, which I just want taller. Also dont want something bushy..just 10-12' tall..would be nice to stay green all winter, but if it browns and I need to trim down in spring for new growth thats fine, as long as it will grown back up to 10-12' quickly. What do you suggest? Thank You, Daniella

Yes, it is considered an invasive species and MUST be contained. I would suggest to the poster asking about having it removed that they approach this neighbor with the out-of-control bamboo and tell them it either needs to be contained or removed completely as it is spreading across your yard and will cost a great deal of money to have it removed. I would also get quotes to have this done by a reputable company specializing in removing invasive species (they are out there) and present this quote to him / her. If he / she scoffs at this just tell them that it's not personal at all but only that this plant is spreading across your property and making it unusable due to the hard canes making it impossible to mow, and the growth so dense you can't get through it literally. Bamboo species are some of the worst invasives in North American ranking up there with Japanese knotweed, Kudzu, Purple loosestrife, English Ivy, Wisteria, Japanese Honeysuckle, Giant Hogweed (which is extremely toxic and burns the skin of anyone who touches it), Norway Maple Trees, Bittersweet, Burning Bush, and Bradford Pear Trees. If you see anyone planting such plants you should kindly, gently tell them that it's an invasive plant, please reconsider. All that said i wouldn't hesitate to start using herbicide on the shoots that are on your property IMMEDIATELY. Use a nonselective glyphosate herbicide. The best method is to cut all the canes down to ground level and let them resprout and start applying glyphosate to the new shoots and leaves at ground level. That's the best time. Be careful when doing so and only apply it on a non-windy day to prevent drift. Glyphosate herbicide is toxic so make sure you wear chemical gloves and don't inhale it or get any on your skin or in your eyes. You will likely need to keep applying it over and over again for a few seasons to knock it back to the property line. Once the canes have been knocked back to the ground and the stubs removed i introduce grass and start mowing the area consistently to prevent new growth from taking off in order to keep it in check. After that it's up to the neighbor to control his side, but it will be a long term battle you will have to fight as long as you own your property and the neighbor refuses to remove it. I've had neighbors with bamboo and they don't seem to think it was a problem and don't understand the problem with invasive plants. It's very hard to change folks minds on the matter.