Bamboo Plants

This is a plant that requires no pesticides or fertilizers to grow and needs very little water to sustain. It is very popular as an ornamental evergreen garden plant and can make fantastic hedging, windbreaks, privacy screens, ground cover, and landscape design features in the garden.

Although it may not look like grass, it is a group of perennial evergreen plants in the Poaceae grass family. Some members of this group of are gigantic and the largest members of the grass family with growth of one metre a day from some species. There are around 1,000 species and 91 genera. The plants grow in many countries across the globe from northern Australia to East Asia, from India to the USA, Europe and Africa... and even Antarctica.

There are two types of bamboo species, running bamboo and clumping bamboo.

Clumping Bamboo

Clumping bamboo does not send out runners, it stays in a tight clump, grows very slowly in comparison to running bamboo, and therefore makes a better choice for a non-invasive garden plant.

The clumping species of bamboos have a different rhizome system to the running species and they grow in a way that looks similar to an inverted umbrella normally producing new shoots annually. The circumference of a maturing plant will grow larger every year but by small amounts and very slowly.

Even though the clumps grow in a different way to running species, the clumps do still grow in size and therefore you need to choose your planting spot carefull while taking note that bamboo plants of the clumping species do still need growing space so don't plant them too close to a fence, wall, or other stucture to allow a small amount of annual growth. These plants can also eventually break a pot when contained if the root system has grown too large for it and it hasn't been transplanted or trimmed. Clumping bamboos can successfully be grown in containers, see my page on container bamboo...

Running Bamboo

The rhizomes of running bamboo spread out very quickly and it is therefore ideal for creating a windbreak or privacy wall by using it for a hedge or screen in your garden. Part of the value of growing bamboo plants is the fact that they spread quickly by shooting out runners. However, care needs to be taken due to its invasive behaviour through containing the growth with methods such as a rhizome barrier as it is very hard to kill bamboo. There are also other methods of controlling, or containing, its growth that involve pruning.

Propagation

Please see my page dedicated to bamboo propagation...

Suppliers

I have provided a link to bamboo plants listed for sale on eBay, these are updated in real time so you can be sure the listings are current, and it is a good place to get a bargain wherever you are located, particularly if you rely on delivery to your door if when you don't live near a specialist nursery.

US listings followed by UK listings if you scroll down the page

You will NOT be making a commitment to buy when you click on any of the links on this page.

If you are from a different country, use the search box and the results will be relevant to you.

Bamboo Plants for Sale on eBay - US

Bamboo Plants for sale on eBay - UK

Geographically targeted eBay search box

More...

From your interest in bamboo plants you will also find useful information on the following pages including species listings and guides

Air Freshening Plants
Plants provide beauty within the home, and air freshening plants can rid your indoor air of nasty odors as well.