skip to main content

Northwestern Gardening

low maintenance clumping bamboo

18 years ago

I want to plant a very low maintenance, tall (for privacy), clumping bamboo along our back deck which gets morning sun and very little (if any) afternoon shade. The area is slightly sloped, clay/loamy soil, pH is probably leaning towards alkaline since my nikko blue hydrangeas are coming in pink. I don't want to water it. I will water it at first to make sure it gets established, but after that I don't want to do anything, except maybe an annual cleanup. What kind of low maintenance, little to no water, tall, clumping bamboo will grow in my zone? Thanks!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

Ron_B
18 years ago
All bamboos are moisture-loving. These are not xeriscape plants. If you're thinking you are going to get a quick, cheap screen this is not the way you are likely to get it: clumping bamboos are pricey, require some inputs to develop rapidly and attractively.
ravensmith
Original Author
18 years ago
So what would you recommend for a quick cheap screen? Ideally, I don't want a vine because I'm afraid it'll damage my already damaged deck. And I would like an evergreen or semi evergreen. Thanks in advance!
Related Discussions
Clumping Timor Black Bamboo
Q
Comments (15)
When buying bamboo in a pot, look for thick shoots. If there are thick shoots or full grown culms coming out, the plant is probably a root cutting or a very mature cane cutting. Too many people propagate bamboo from the cane which does not have a rhizome ball. Just branches growing from a node while the cane is under the dirt developing roots, but no rhizome, at least not for a while anyways, so you won't get a true rhizome shoot for a long while. I recommend, if you plan on putting the bamboo in the ground, to stay away from bamboos that cant handle temps below 20 degrees. Try bamboos like Golden Goddess, Chinese Goddess, Malingensis or maybe Clone X. If you plan on leaving it in a pot that can be moved in from the cold, try B.V. Wamin, or b. Lako. When tropical bamboos are subjected to temperature threshold, the bamboo begins dying from the top, one section at a time. This hinders it's longterm growth and can make ugly tops on your bamboo. If you plan on leaving it in a pot, then look at the runners. They can handle the cold and down here they're pretty cheap to buy.
...See More
Your favorite clumping bamboo?
Q
Comments (27)
The American Bamboo Society lists Mex Weep as cold hardy to 22F and all of the Bambusa multiplexes as cold hardy to 18F. I think they may be cold hardy to even 15F from my experience, but other factors are involved, such as keeping them watered well before a freeze helps keep them from frostbite, and also if they are planted in a protected area or next to a warm house. The B. textilis is the largest and most cold hardy Bambusa that does very well here. Mine has survived many Winters down to below 15F with only a little leaf burn and it has no protection from cold north winds. The B. multiplexes are the next cold hardiest of my clumpers. The Mexican Weeping does very well in these long hot humid Summers, but it doesn't do well below about 26F where it starts to lose leaves from frostbite. Remember, a young plant is less cold hardy than a well-established one. Good Luck Kt
...See More
Variety of Clumping Bamboo?
Q
Comments (1)
For useful responses say where this is and show closer views making it possible to see details of the stems and culm sheaths.
...See More
Clumping bamboo for Tulsa?
Q
Comments (2)
mars, have you had a chance to check with Bamboo Satori in Guthrie? I'm assuming you have. Sounds as if you've researched it well, but I wanted to posit the link in case you haven't or for someone who might stumble by. It has been a while since I researched (and ultimately decided against planting bamboo). At that time I came to the conclusion that the clumping varieties naturally grew in the understory environment, preferring dappled or part shade and probably weren't suitable for full sun. I didn't do a comprehensive search, however. I hope you find one that works well. Let us know if you do. bon
...See More
dottyinduncan
18 years ago
I was at a wonderful garden the other day and she was using a Sambucas as a screen between garden areas. It was lovely - a deep rich purpley black and she said it puts up shoots 6 ft. high each year and she prunes when necessary, but not a tough job.
ian_wa
18 years ago
The clumping bamboo Thamnocalamus tesselatus will grow here in full sun, without any irrigation once established (as long as it is not an EXTREMELY dry spot anyways) if you mulch it. I have had it in my garden since 1999. It grows to about 12-14' tall and over time spreads out to be a rather wide plant if you allow it - so the form might not be what you are looking for. It is a pretty fast grower. It often has a poor appearance in pots so don't be put off by that. One of our local wholesalers is growing it so you should be able to find it somewhere.

I bet you could get Chusquea culeou to grow large pretty quick too, if you mulch it heavily with rich, moisture retentive compost, and if you didn't mind watering it for just the first couple of years. Once it is established it is pretty tough as well. It is usually a larger, taller plant, though there is sometimes variation in size and habit from one individual to the next.

I have had both of these in my garden and I have not watered them after the first year. The Chusquea took a while to get going; it would have established more quickly if I had taken better care of it when I first plant it, I am sure.
larry_gene
18 years ago
I've grown several varieties of bamboo and didn't find the plant to be low maintenance. If it had been near my deck, it would have been very high maintenance. Depends on how clean of a deck you want to keep.

Related Stories

LANDSCAPE DESIGN 7 Low-Maintenance Lawn Alternatives

By J. Peterson Garden Design

Turf isn't the only ground cover in town. Get a lush no-grass lawn with clover, moss and other easy-care plants

FALL GARDENING Great Design Plant: Low-Maintenance Allium Cernuum

By Curtis Adams

Nodding onion is a Mid-Atlantic native bulb with beautiful midsummer blooms

KITCHEN COUNTERTOPS 7 Low-Maintenance Countertops for Your Dream Kitchen

By Christine Tusher

Fingerprints, stains, resealing requirements ... who needs ’em? These countertop materials look great with little effort

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Alphonse Karr Bamboo

By Annie Thornton

Bamboo gets a bad rap in the garden, but this clumping variety creates an exotic landscape look with less aggressiveness

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Small Garden? You Can Still Do Bamboo

By Matt Kilburn

Forget luck. Having bamboo that thrives on a wee plot just takes planning, picking the right variety, and keeping runners in check

SAVING WATER Lush Gardens With Low Water Needs

Drought tolerant doesn’t have mean spindly, brown and thorny

DECORATING GUIDES Improve Your Style Fortune With Lucky Bamboo

By creative jewish mom.com

Serve this versatile plant straight up or with a twist for auspicious living decor that thrives without soil

WINDOW TREATMENTS How Low Should Your Drapes Go?

By Judith Taylor Designs

Hover, brush the floor or pool like Scarlett O'Hara's tears — we give you the lowdown on curtain length options

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Walker's Low Catmint

By Annie Thornton

Prolific purple blooms, fragrant leaves, and cold-hardiness makes this a go-to plant for almost any garden

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Exuberant Self-Seeders for Gorgeous, Easy-Care Gardens

By Donald Pell - Gardens

Keep weeds down, color high and maintenance low with beautful plants that sow themselves

Sponsored

Integrity Woodworking Inc

4 Reviews

Franklin County's Preferred Custom Cabinetry Professionals

More Discussions

Gossler Farms Nursery visit...Embothrium purchase

7

Helleborus 'Garnet Frills'

4

My favorite plant in my garden, right now.

12

We wants it! (But will it rule them all?)

10

winter losses on new plants

2