Different Types of Bamboo

Almost every plant has a variety to choose from and bamboo is no different. The bamboo plant is well known for invasive growth and giving gardeners a hard time. However, not all types or species of these plants are so troublesome and it is important for gardeners to be properly informed on the variety they choose. Some species can be managed effectively and bring all their charm to your garden. Read on to explore the types of Bamboo.

It is important to know that all bamboo is generally divided into clumping or running bamboo. This differs from the species of bamboo that exists.

Clumping Bamboo

This bamboo plant is the best to grow because it stays put. There’s hardly any reason to consider bamboo removal when you have this type growing in your garden. Clumping bamboo has dense clumps or short rhizomes that grow slowly. They prefer to stay close to their place of origin and are easy to maintain this way. Regular garden practices like pruning, watering, and others are sufficient bamboo maintenance methods for this plant.

Running Bamboo

This type is the opposite of clumping bamboo. It is what gardeners dread and fight so hard to eradicate in the long run. The running bamboo grows by sending out highly penetrative rhizomes everywhere. These send up new shoots in their different locations. Running bamboo is very aggressive and encroaches on your neighbor’s property. It does this because the highly penetrating rhizomes can travel over 100 feet. Running bamboo are mostly the subjects of bamboo eradication methods. You shouldn’t plant them unless you have a containment strategy ready.

Common Bamboo Varieties

Every bamboo species is unique in appearance and growth pattern. Having a few colors spotted varieties like the Black bamboo and Golden grove can light up your garden. Some species also have a preference for weather or temperature. Thus, there is the cold hardy types of bamboo and the warm climate types of bamboo. All these are important to know before planting. Here are some examples.

Running Bamboo varieties include Black bamboo, Kuma bamboo, and Golden Grove which are cold hardy types suitable for such temperatures. Also, Golden Golden, Red Margin, and Giant Japanese Timber are warm climate types of running bamboo.

Clumping Bamboo varieties in the cold hardy type include Chinese mountain and Umbrella bamboo. Examples of the warm climate types of clumping bamboo are Chinese Goddess, Silverstripe, Hedge bamboo, and Fernleaf.