Bamboo is a versatile plant that has been used for thousands of years. There are over 1,000 species of bamboo, ranging in size, color, and uses. With so many types to choose from, it can be overwhelming to decide which bamboo is right for your needs. This article will provide an overview of the different categories and features of bamboo to help you select the best plants.
Clumping Bamboo
Clumping bamboo grows in tight groups that slowly spread outward from the center. The rhizomes grow horizontally underground and send up new stalks near the plant’s base. Clumping bamboos do well in pots or other places where you don’t want them to spread.
Popular clumping bamboo varieties include
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Yellow Buddha Belly – Grows 10-15 feet tall with golden culms. Does well in containers.
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Fernleaf bamboo – Features delicate, fern-like leaves. Grows 15-20 feet tall.
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Rufa bamboo – Cold hardy variety growing 15 feet tall with bluish-green culms.
Running Bamboo
Running bamboo grows quickly from underground stems called rhizomes that can grow many feet long and make new stalks. They’re great for quickly making screens and hedges, but they need to be contained to stop them from spreading.
Common running bamboo types:
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Golden Goddess bamboo – Grows 20-30 feet with yellow culms striped in green. Fast growing.
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Japanese timber bamboo is a huge type that can grow up to 40 feet tall. Thrives in moist soil.
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Black bamboo – Features striking black culms. Matures at 30-40 feet tall.
Giant Bamboo
As the name implies, giant bamboo varieties grow to tremendous heights of 40 feet or more. These massive tropical clumping bamboos make dramatic specimen plants in the landscape.
Popular giant bamboo options:
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Giant timber bamboo – The largest bamboo species, growing over 100 feet tall with culms over 7 inches in diameter.
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This is Mangalam giant bamboo. The thick-walled stems can grow up to 65 feet tall and last for more than 40 years.
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Buddha’s belly bamboo – Features swollen lower internodes giving the culms a distinctive “bubble” shape.
Dwarf Bamboo
For those with limited space, dwarf bamboo grows in petite forms under 10 feet tall. Dwarf bamboos make excellent container plants and add texture to rock gardens.
Top dwarf bamboo picks:
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Pygmy bamboo – A tropical clumping bamboo growing just 6 feet tall.
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Vietnamese dwarf bamboo – Clumping variety under 5 feet tall useful for bonsai.
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Softleaf bamboo – Tiny runner grows just 2 feet tall with delicate leaves.
Ornamental Bamboo
With unique shapes, colors, and designs, ornamental bamboos provide visual interest and texture. They make excellent focal points and can be used as bold accents in the garden.
Striking ornamental bamboo varieties:
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Tortoise shell bamboo – Culms are striped with yellow bands resembling a tortoise shell.
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Buddha’s belly bamboo – Features swollen lower internodes shaped like a Buddha’s belly.
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Lucky bamboo – A popular houseplant featuring curly or twisted golden culms. Requires minimal care.
Cold Hardy Bamboo
For cooler climates, cold hardy bamboo varieties can withstand freezing winters and short growing seasons. Choose hardy bamboos if you live in USDA zones 6 or below.
Top cold hardy options:
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Mountain bamboo – Clumping bamboo hardy to -20°F. Grows 20 feet tall.
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Blue Henon bamboo – Runner spreads slowly and tolerates cold. Grows to 25 feet.
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Temple bamboo – Hardy giant timber bamboo reaching 50 feet tall. Thrives in cold areas.
Uses for Bamboo
Beyond ornamental appeal, bamboo has many practical uses:
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Building Material – Culms are strong and lightweight, ideal for fences, decks, housing, and furniture.
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Erosion Control – Fast-growing root systems prevent soil loss on slopes and riverbanks.
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Food Source – New shoots are edible and nutritious. Some species produce edible seeds.
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Paper & Textiles – Sustainable alternative to wood pulp for paper, clothing, and other fiber products.
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Windbreaks – Bamboo’s dense growth shields against wind damage and noise.
With so many sizes, shapes, and uses, there is a bamboo to meet any need. Take time to determine your site conditions and project goals before selecting bamboo. With the right choice and care, you can enjoy this diverse plant for many years to come.
Small Running Bamboo & Ground Cover
These bamboos are hardy down to about 15º F or higher.
8 Types of Bamboo and What They’re Used For
Out of more than 1,000 bamboo species, we’ve chosen eight to look at more in-depth. Encompassing these eight bamboo types are two main categories, known as running bamboo and clumping bamboo. Running bamboo plants can spread quickly and are often thought of as an invasive species. Clumping bamboo plants usually grow outward from a central stem. From the ubiquitous Moso bamboo to the eye-catching black bamboo, let’s learn more about what makes each bamboo type unique and valuable.
BEST BAMBOO PLANTS FOR HOME
FAQ
How do I know which type of bamboo I have?
Identification tipsLook for lateral spread and identify developing new shoots breaking the surface away from the original plant. The stems of running Bamboo are rigid or grooved, the stems of most clumping varieties are perfectly round. Check the base of a plant growing in the ground.
How many different types of bamboo plants are there?
In the tribe Bambuseae, also known as bamboo, there are 91 genera and over 1,000 species. The size of bamboo varies from small annuals to giant timber bamboo.
What kind of bamboo should I plant in my yard?
Coastal Areas (Zone 9a): Because the winters are mild there and the ocean is close by, coastal areas are great for growing bamboo types like Bambusa multiplex (Hedge Bamboo), Fargesia robusta (Green Screen Bamboo), and Chusquea culeou (Bamboo Gracile).
What is the most beautiful bamboo?
Fargesia robusta ‘Campbell’ (picture left and right) is without doubt the most beautiful and useful robusta variety. It’s hardy with an erect and compact growth and that makes it a much better choice than all other varieties of Fargesia robusta. This bamboo has rather small shiny leaves.
What are some examples of bamboo plants?
Bamboo plants come in many different shapes and sizes. There are over 1200 species of bamboo plants, and they can be found all over the world. Some examples include: 1. Black Bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra), which is a species of bamboo with dark green canes. Bamboo plants can range from six inches to 100 feet tall, with leaves up to two feet long.
What are the different types of bamboo?
Bamboo can be split into two general types: running and clumping. Clumping bamboo grows just as the name suggests – in a big clump of grass that mainly grows up and stays put where you’ve planted it. This type is the best choice if you want a bamboo stand that won’t spread in your garden.
What are the two types of bamboo growth?
There are two types of bamboo: clumping, compact growth close to the plant’s base, and running growth, growth that spreads from its rhizomes. The upper nodes grow buds, which develop into leaves and branches. Bamboo is among the primary signature plant of Asian inspired garden.
How many types of bamboo are there for gardeners?
There are about 500 species, subspecies, varieties, and cultivars of bamboo that can be grown in gardens in the US and Canada. Here are 15 types of bamboo to grow in your garden.
How many species of bamboo are there?
The answer may surprise you – there are over 1200 different species of bamboo! Bamboo is a fast-growing grass that is native to many parts of the world, including Asia, Africa, and South America. Bamboo plants come in all shapes and sizes, from tiny miniature varieties to towering giants that can reach up to 100 feet tall!
Where are bamboo species found?
Worldwide, there are approximately 1,500 bamboo species found from tropical regions to the snowline of the Andes. Bamboos (subfamily Bambusoideae) are among the broad-leaved grasses ( Poaceae) associated with forest habitats that diversified into woody stemmed plants.