Bamboo |
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Name |
Deciduous or Evergreen |
Clumping or Running |
Height x Spread |
Plant Characteristics |
Arundinaria gigantea |
Evergreen |
Running |
15’-20’ |
A hardy choice for a windbreak, hedge or screen with its upright, tight growth. Only one of two bamboos native to North America! |
Arundinaria variegata |
Evergreen |
Running |
4’-6’ |
New leaves are white with a bright green stripe. Striking with low tufts of erect ‘zig-zag’ pale green canes. Cut back old canes in spring for lush new growth. |
Arundinaria viridistriata |
Evergreen |
Running |
30”-36” |
Foliage on this hardy dwarf species is green and gold, turning greener as summer commences. Fabulous in containers! |
Bambusa multiplex ‘Golden Goddess’ |
Evergreen |
Clumping |
10’ x 5’ |
A dense, graceful clumping bamboo. Elegant with its yellow culms in a container or used as a screen. Plant in a protected site, hardy to –10 degrees C. |
Bambusa multiplex ‘Wang Tsai’ |
Evergreen |
Clumping |
8’ x 3’ |
Curving green to orange-brown stems and dark green tufted foliage. Hardy to – 8 degrees C. |
Bambusa textilis var. ‘Gracilis |
Evergreen |
Clumping |
15’ x 8’ |
Lovely upright compact form. Useful for privacy screen or hedge. As the culms age, they are useful for stakes and poles for tools. Hardy to –10 degrees C. |
Chimonobambusa marmorea |
Evergreen |
Running |
2’-5’ |
A feathery little bamboo utilized as a substantial groundcover or as an ornamental in a pot. The supple canes are light tan-green and can turn a bright red in direct morning sun. The new shoots and leaves have a marbled appearance, adding to its beauty. Hardy to –8 degrees C. |
Fargesia rufa ‘Sunset Glow’ |
Evergreen |
Clumping |
8’ x 5’ |
A fabulous selection for the residential gardener! The dense, slightly weeping habit combined with the orange-red cane sheaths make this bamboo a wonderful focal point. A favourite food of the Giant Panda! |
Phyllostachys aurea |
Evergreen |
Running |
20’–25’ |
The most popular bamboo in North America. Easy to grow medium sized bamboo with culms that have been used for walking sticks, umbrella handles, and fishing rods among many things. Excellent privacy screen for that area just above your fence line. Gorgeous upright accent in containers as well. |
Phyllostachys aureosulcata |
Evergreen |
Running |
25’-30’ |
A great choice for a unique privacy screen. Selected canes have a striking zig-zag pattern that occurs in the lower culms. A yellow stripe on the green culms when younger adds to the allure of this bamboo. A fast and reliable grower, which looks fabulous in containers as well. |
Phyllostachys aureosulcata ‘Aureocaulis’ |
Evergreen |
Running |
18’-25’ |
Beautiful true lemon-yellow culms that gain a red blush in spring when new shoots are exposed to direct sunlight. A splashy choice for a narrow, colourful screen. Reaches its mature height quickly and very hardy. Excellent backdrop for border plantings. |
Phyllostachys nigra |
Evergreen |
Running |
15’-25’ |
One of the most sought after bamboos! Jet-black stems and lush feathery green leaves make this bamboo a stand out in the garden. New culms emerge green and gradually turn black in 2-3 years. A beautiful accent plant, older canes have a tendency lean—planting directly beside a patio or walk not advised. Among the least aggressive spreaders of the Phyllostachys. |
Phyllostachys rubromarginata |
Evergreen |
Running |
40’-50’ |
Ideal for a traditional grove. Long internodes make it a good choice for projects and crafts—used for flutes! The culm sheaths are an olive colour with fine reddish striping; new shoots are very colourful. A fast growing and spreading screening option. |
Phyllostachys vivax (Chinese Timber Bamboo) |
Evergreen |
Running |
60’-70’ |
Wow! If you need a “super-bamboo”, this is the one for you! Quickest of the Phyllostachys to attain a large size. Under ideal conditions it can grow to over 70’ tall and 5” in diameter for each culm. Hardiest of the timber bamboos, young shoots from this bamboo rate among the best for eating. |
Pleioblastus pygmaeus (Pygmy Bamboo) |
Semi-Evergreen |
Running |
2’-3’ |
One of the smallest of the bamboos, its leaves are quite feathery and fine. Wonderful in containers or as an unusual small hedge. Tolerates shade quite well. One of the best dwarf bamboos for use as a bonsai! |
Pleioblastus pygmaeus var. distichus (Dwarf Fern-leaf Bamboo) |
Semi-Evergreen |
Running |
1’-2’ |
Vigorous turf grass alternative that can be kept dense and clean by mowing. Leaves are small with a fern-like appearance. Can be used for erosion control, once established a strong spreader. Do not let move into wild native habitat. |
Pleioblastus variegatus (Dwarf White Stripe Bamboo) |
Semi-Evergreen |
Running |
2’-4’ |
Upright bamboo with lovely pale green canes with boldly striped cream and dark green leaves. Spiky appearance looks fantastic in containers. Cut back in spring for new lush growth. |
Pseudosasa japonica (Arrow Bamboo) |
Evergreen |
Running |
14’-18’ |
One of the most widely planted bamboos. Large glossy leaves (5”-13” long) cover this excellent hedging option. Tolerates windy or seaside locations. |
Pseudosasa japonica ‘Tsutsumiana’ (Green Onion Bamboo) |
Evergreen |
Running |
10’ |
Very interesting cultivar with swollen culm and rhizome internodes that resemble a string of beads as it matures. It is shorter than the species but has the same large glossy leaves. Display in containers or great as a mid-sized screen with arresting cane features. Salt and wind tolerant. |
Sasaella masamuneana ‘Albostriata’ (Variegated Groundcover Bamboo) |
Semi-Evergreen |
Running |
6’ |
A stunning foliage plant with attractive cream, white and green variegated thick leaves. Prune foliage in early spring, rejuvenated foliage has best variegation. |
Sasaella ramosa (Groundcover Bamboo) |
Semi-Evergreen |
Running |
1.5’-3’ |
Perfect for containers forming a green globe of foliage! Thrives in a wide variety of soils and sun tolerant. Excellent ground cover for large areas, poor soils or bank stabilization. |
Semiarundinaria fastuosa (Temple Bamboo) |
Evergreen |
Running |
25’-30’ |
‘Fastuosa’ is Latin for stately, and indeed this upright bamboo exemplifies this characteristic. The culms start green and gradually age to a burgundy colour. An architectural and sophisticated look, the largest hardy bamboo in the Pacific Northwest that is not a Phyllostachys. Wind and salt tolerant, making it a good hedging option. A strong ornamental on its own. |
Shibataea kumasaca (Ruscus Bamboo) |
Semi-Evergreen |
Running |
4’-6’ |
An architectural low-growing bamboo that is planted en masse for a striking hedge or in a container. The short, wide leaves form a bushy green mound that does best in shady, acidic locations—great as an under story shrub in the Pacific Northwest! Fills in quickly for a bushy ground cover. Cut back to the ground for smaller, fresh shoots if desired. |
Sinarundinaria nitida (Fountain Bamboo) |
Evergreen |
Clumping |
10’-12’ |
Clumping bamboo with a strong arching effect. Foliage seems to float around the whip-like culms—dainty and graceful bamboo. Has been used in basket making, sieves, fencing and light construction. |