10 Amazing Facts About Bamboo You Should Know

The evergreen hardy bamboo plants are becoming popular. Many people are concerned about the fast-growing nature of bamboo which is why they receive such a bad rap. 

They are amazing plants - here are 10 popular questions with answers about growing bamboo plants.

Two types of bamboo plants in the UK

Firstly, two common types of bamboo plants grow in the UK, clump-forming bamboo and running bamboo. 

Each has more than 10 - 20 varieties that do well in British weather.

To know the bamboo that is suitable for you, you must know the different varieties of bamboo and their features, because one variety does not fit all.

Some bamboos are better suited to pots and containers, whereas the others are best for outdoors.

10 facts about growing bamboo plants

1. Q. How fast does bamboo grow?

• A. Clump-forming bamboos tend to grow 30-60 cm (1 – 2 feet) taller each year.
• A. Running bamboos grow 90cm to 2m (3 – 6 feet) taller each year. They mature in height in just one growth year.

Do you know: A certain bamboo variety is known to be the fastest-growing plant, according to the Guinness World Records, growing at up to 91 centimetres (35 inches) per day.

2. Q. How tall does bamboo grow?

• A. Clump-forming Bamboo culms (stems) usually grow to 5m (15 feet) tall. These bamboo will grow and spread about the same distance.
• A. New shoots of Running Bamboo plants grow 90cm to2 m taller each year until it reaches the maximum height (~2m).

Do you know: A new bamboo shoot can reach its full height in less than 3 months and survive for 5 to 10 years?

3. Q. How far do bamboo roots (rhizomes) spread?

• A. Clump-forming bamboos: The rhizomes of clumping bamboos establish in 1 – 2 years. The new shoots are an indication of a well-established clump root system. The rhizomes can spread to 5 m around the parent plant.
• A. Running bamboos: This is an invasive variety. Its rhizomes spread pretty quickly, they can grow more than a metre in a year.

4. Q. Which bamboo is best for screening?

• A. The best bamboo for screening must be tall, grows lots of secondary branches, has dense evergreen foliage. It should, or at least, grow in both sun, part-shade and shade. Some varieties of Fargesia Murielae, also called the Umbrella Bamboos, are perfect for screening or for hedging.

5. Q. What kind of bamboo is best for the garden?

• A. Clumping bamboo varieties are great garden plants, they spread more slowly and gradually. In the garden, they can be used as ornamental or patio pot plants. Fargesia Simba and Pleioblastus Distichus are the best for garden centrepieces.

6. Q. Is bamboo legal in the UK?

• A. There are currently no restrictions on planting bamboo in the UK. The UK Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (Updates 11 December 2014, now the Guidance to Invasive Non-native Plants) does not classify bamboo as an invasive species.

7. Q. Can bamboo grow in pots and containers?

A. You can grow both Running and Clumping bamboo plants in pots and containers. Their growth and duration are limited to the size of the pots and will require care or repotting after 3 – 5 years.

In-depth Answer: Here is an article we wrote about the Best Bamboos for Pots.

8. Q. Does bamboo grow in shade?

• A. Although most varieties of running and clumping bamboos like sunlight, they can also grow in shades. Some varieties of clump-forming bamboo plants are best for partial and full shaded areas. When planting a variety of clump-forming plants to grow in the share, ensure that the soil is well-drained.

9. Q. How much water does bamboo need?

• A. Old bamboo plants have natural water storage capacity through their hollow canes/culms and rhizomes (roots). Their deep roots and long canes will be able to store water and become drought resistant.
• A. New bamboo will need water to grow until the roots and culms are well established. Water generously, but not too much water to avoid waterlogging. Lack of water or too much water can kill them.

10. When is the right time to prune bamboo plants?

• A. Summer checks: In the Summer, the plants would have grown to full height, and the rhizomes have reached far and wide or packed in clumps. Prune the culms and rhizomes, but not an ideal time to grow or re-pot the bamboos they may not survive the cold in Winter.
• A. Spring checks: In the early Spring, the new shoots are an indication of how far the plants have grown and how healthy they are. This gives you an ideal opportunity to prune, re-pot or dig out the intruding rhizomes and canes.