Choosing Bamboo

Bamboo Choices
Great Outdoors tries to carry a wide variety of bamboos. Some varieties are much more available than others. Also, some are much more cost effective than others. We have access to many varieties that are not regularly stocked. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to ask one of our plant consultants. Most varieties stocked at the store are clumping varieties. Running bamboos will be clearly denoted as such.

Clumping Bamboo (by height):
Almost all varieties listed are species of Bambusa, a relatively cold hardy but also heat tolerant family of bamboos. They may get a bit of damage if we reach mid-teens. Others may be available, but listed varieties are tried and true.

B. multiplex ‘Tiny Fern’- Shortest clumper. 4’-6’ max

B. multiplex ‘Fernleaf’- 8’-10’ Starburst clusters of ten or more small leaves on each twig is distinguishing.

B. multilex ‘Golden Goddess’- 8’-12’ One of the best for a hedge. Similar to ‘Fernleaf’ except slightly smaller leaf and culms that mature to a golden yellow in full sun.

B. multi. ‘Sil;ver Stripe’- White stripes on many of its leaves. 10’-15’ can have a wider top than others. Striking, beautiful.

B. multiplex ‘Alphonse Karr’-
Characterized by bright yellow culms with random dark green stripes. Great for privacy in a suburban setting. 12’-20’ New shoots and culms are often reddish. The erect culms are ornamental, leaf-free for the bottom half and form dense clumps of slightly arching branches covered with leaves toward the top. The back of the leaves has a “metallic” “silvery” look.

Otatea acuminata aztecorum,
Mexican Weeping Bamboo- 10’-20’, but also very wide. One of the only clumpers that is not a Bambusa that grows well in Austin. Can be damaged by our coldest winters (<18°F). More drought tolerant than Bambusa varieties. Its fountain form is beautiful planted in a pot, not so good along a fence.

B. multiplex - 30’ and fast growing. The parent cultivar of a great family of bamboo known as oriental hedge bamboo. Has feathery nodding culms that form a mobile puffball that dances in the wind. Like all multiplex, it has bluish leaf-backs.

B. textilis ‘Gracilis’- Graceful Weavers Bamboo. Great for second story privacy. 16’-30’. Great in a pot or as a screen. Also makes a delicate focal point in the garden when planted as a single specimen. Foliage cascades gracefully with leaf tips pointing downward. Easy to grow.

B. textilis- Weavers Bamboo. Spectacular, very straight and dense culms with long internodes. New culms are initially white powdered, then darkening as it grows. It grows in tight clumps and is cold-hardy, only dropping a little foliage at 10-15°F. It has a tidy appearance, with no branches on the lower half of the clump, showing off the beautiful canes. The top canopy is full and lush with a graceful arching growth habit. It has high quality thin-walled culms that are often used for weaving
or furniture making.

 

B. oldhamii- Giant Timber Bamboo. Lots of bamboos get the title
“Giant Timber”, but this variety is best for Austin. Delicious shoots are light green and hairless. Vivid green clums turn gold in strong sunlight. Beautiful straight growth makes great furniture. 25’-40’

B. beecheyana- Beechey Bamboo. Similar to Oldhammii, but wider and more arching pendulous tops. Leaves are medium and varied in size. Superior edible shoots. Possibly the largest diameter culm that you can grow in Austin. Shoots are great for eating.

B. ventricosa- Buddha’s Belly Bamboo.
Give this baby some room. Can reach 25’-45’ and gets fairly wide, as low growth can get quite long and horizontal. Lower internodes becomes short and swollen like a Buddha’s belly, valued for furniture making. Grow well in poor, dry soils. Makes an inpenetrable hedge.

Running Bamboos:
Running bamboos should always be planted with great respect. There is no question, without proper confinement, they will take over large portions of your yard. They will go in any direction they want. They will travel under walks and drives.

B. multiplex ‘Alphonse Karr’-
Characterized by bright yellow culms with random dark green stripes. The lower third remains relatively leafless. On of the best for privacy in a suburban setting. 12’-20’

Otatea acuminata aztecorum, Mexican Weeping Bamboo- 10’-20’, but also very wide. One of the only clumpers that is not a Bambusa that grows well in Austin. Can be damaged by our coldest winters (below 18 degrees). More drought tolerant than Bambusa varieties. It’s fountain form is beautiful planted in a pot, not so good along a fence.

B. multiplex - 30’ and fast growing. The parent cultivar of a great family of bamboo known as oriental hedge bamboo. Has feathery nodding culms that form a mobile puffball that dances in the wind. Like all multiplex, it has bluish leaf-backs.

B. textilis ‘Gracillis’- Graceful Weavers Bamboo. Great for second story privacy. 16’-30’. Great in a pot or as a screen. Can be difficult to find.

B. textilis- Weaver’s Bamboo. Spectacular, very straight and dense culms with long internodes. New culms are initially white powdered, then darkening as it grows. Larger growing, larger leaved than ‘Gracillis’. 20’-35’. Difficult to obtain.

B. oldhammii- Giant Timber Bamboo. Lots of bamboos get the title “Giant Timber”, but this variety is best for Austin. Delicious shoots are light green and hairless. Vivid green clums turn gold in strong sunlight. Beautiful straight growth makes great furniture. 25’-40’

B. beechyana- Beechy Bamboo. Similar to Oldhammii, but wider and more arching pendulous tops. Leaves are medium and varied in size. Superior edible shoots. Possibly the largest diameter culm that you can grow in Austin. Difficult to obtain.

B. ventricosa- Buddha’s Belly Bamboo. Give this baby some room. Can reach 25’-45’ and gets fairly wide, as low growth can get quite long and horizontal. Lower internodes becomes short and swollen like a Buddha’s belly, valued for furniture making. Grow well in poor, dry soils. Makes an inpenetrable hedge.

Running Bamboos:
Running bamboos should always be planted with great respect. There is no question, without proper confinement, they will take over large portions of your yard. They will go in any direction they want. They will travel under walks and drives. We feel they are best planted in containers or using Bamboo Barrier, a 40 mil plastic barrier used to contain them.

While there are several running varieties that will grow well in Austin, most all you will see are in the Phyllostachys clan. Here are the two most common varieties, but there are many more.

P. nigra- Black Bamboo. This is a runner, not a clumper as some people believe. It will tolerate shade better than most runners. Culms turn black at one year, so new growth is still green. 12’-25’

P. aurea- Golden Bamboo. This is most of what is seen growing “wild” around Austin. It is a very aggressive spreader and such be treated with care. 15’-30’

Another word of caution: There are a number of other clumping bamboos that would seem to do very well in Austin. Fargesia, Borinda, and Chusquea are all very cold hardy clumpers. The problem lies in heat tolerance. These species are native to very high elevations in the mountains of Asia and South America. Just a few of our 100 degree plus days can kill them. Keep this in mind if researching online.

Come by The Great Outdoors and get our Bamboo Handout, full of color pictures and a great graph of how the different bamboos compare in mature height.>