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What is growing under your large bamboo? groundcover suggestions?

17 years ago

Hi,

I've got several species of large bambusa in my yard. Under some, I've got some giant lirope which seems to do pretty well. It allows the dead boo leaves to fall through to the ground and mulch the area. It also doesn't seem bothered when huge new culms shoot through it.

Under some others I let some asiatic jasmine creep over. The bamboo leaves fall on it, and then get tangled in it and look messy all the time. The dead leaves also get very wet (on top of the jasmine) and seem to rot some of the new culms. It is also constantly growing up the culms, which is just a bad idea altogether. I'm getting ready to rip it out and am looking for ideas.

So, what's growing under your bamboo? I'm contemplating Heucheras, but would love other suggestions (and photos if you've got them)!

(I know some people like rocks, but it's very close to my pool, and the kids will just throw them in the water...)

Thanks!

Featured Answer

stockwell

17 years ago

Strawberrys.
{{gwi:399669}}

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Comments (9)

coolshare
17 years ago
{{gwi:413450}}
kudzu9
17 years ago
Shrub bamboo, hostas, California poppies...
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va_highlander
17 years ago
Hostas?

I had thought of planting hostas under bamboo, but thought shooting might be a problem. Were it something like H 'Undulata', who really cares, but if a shoot came up in the middle of a big, mature H sieboldiana, like 'Elegans' or 'Great Expectations', or some other desirable slow-grower, my wife would be most unhappy.
bambooo
17 years ago
Hostas, Trout Lily, Cranesbills, Italian Arum , Jack in the Pulpit, Ground cover bamboos- (Indocalmus, Sasa, Plieoblastus)vinca, weeds too numerous to mention!
kudzu9
17 years ago
va_highlander-
Just buy your own hostas...then your wife can't complain, can she?
va_highlander
17 years ago
Hi kudzu9,

Excellent idea. So long as the bamboo doesn't mind having to force its way through hosta roots, I don't think I care too awfully much. It's a question of priorities.
magsc21
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks everyone. I'm going to try a couple of things and see what can stand the snails!
mike_marietta_sc_z8a
17 years ago
Groundcovers growing under some of my bamboos:
Hedera helix, H. colchica, H. nepalensis, Vinca minor, V. major, Parthenocissus quiquifolia, Aspidistra eliator, Rohdea japonica, Pleioblastus viridistriata

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