Bamboo Screen

Bamboos make excellent garden screens and can be cut or trimmed to achieve the desired outcome that compliments your garden design.

The main difference between a privacy screen and a hedge is that screens are taller whereas hedges are much shorter and more formal in appearance. I have concentrated on listing the taller species here because they are more suitable for screens than hedges. If you are looking for a species suited to hedging please look on my page that focuses on the Bamboo Hedge. I also have a section on Bamboo Windbreak for those of you who live in exposed places!

The image on the left is a bamboo forest... wow...

You can cultivate a bamboo screen by choosing a species that has a height rating to suit your finished requirements, or by pruning and trimming a taller species down to the height you desire. Please see my page on pruning bamboo for information on pruning, cutting, and trimming.

You should choose your species of bamboo according to your required end result. Start by deciding on the height, colour, density, and leaf size that will be suitable for your location or garden design. Also consider how you are going to control the growth of your screen and/or contain it in the desired area. Please see my section on control and containment for a guide on these methods.

The bamboos listed below are some of the species that will make a good bamboo screen.

Species

Hibanobambusa Tranquillans 'Shiroshima' - Very rare - Excellent screening or hedging with moderate spreading - 2 branches per node - Variegated cream and white striped leaves can grow to 10 inches long by 1 1/4 inches wide - Maximum height: 16' - Maximum diameter: 1 1/4"

Indocalamus latifolius 'Solidus' - Very good screening, hedging, and shade bamboo with aggressive spreading - Leaves are 8 to 10 inches long - Maximum height: 8' - Maximum diameter: 3/8"

Indocalamus tessellatus Tessellatus - Good screening, excellent hedging, moderate spreading, can grow in containers - edible - largest leaves of up to 24 inches long by 4 inches wide - Maximum height: 7' - Maximum diameter: 1/2"

Phyllostachys aurea 'Golden bamboo' or 'Fishpole Bamboo' - Excellent for a bamboo screen, good for hedging and container - spreads aggressively in areas with warm summers - edible - Culms used for fishing rods, walking sticks, umbrella handles, crafts projects, and interior decoration - Maximum height: 27' - Maximum diameter: 1 3/4"

Phyllostachys bissetii 'Dwarf Bisset' - Excellent screening and hedging with a very aggressive spread and vigorous growth - early shooting in spring - Used for handicrafts, tools, and splits can be woven - Maximum Height: 18' - Maximum Diameter: 1"

Phyllostachys flexuosa 'Zigzag Bamboo' - Excellent screening and hedging with aggressive spreading - some culms show a zigzag pattern - edible - branches and leaves appear more open than other species - used for woven bamboo projects, pipes, and fishing rods - Maximum height: 31' - Maximum diameter: 2 1/4"

Phyllostachys heteroclada 'Solidstem' - Excellent screening and good for hedging with aggressive spreading - edible - suitable to grow in wetter climates - Maximum height: 24' - Maximum diameter: 3/4"

Phyllostachys nigra 'Hale' - Excellent for a high branching bamboo screen but too tall for a hedge - moderate spreading - hardier than some species - turns black sooner than other species - Maximum height: 20' - Maximum diameter: 1 1/2"

Pleioblastus chino elegantissimus - Good screening and excellent hedging with a moderate spreading - green leaves with thin white stripes varying in lengths - Maximum height: 10' - Maximum diameter: 3/4"

Pleioblastus chino 'Murakamianus' - Good screening and excellent hedging with moderate spreading - variegated leaves with white stripes - Maximum height: 10' - Maximum diameter: 3/4"

Pleioblastus linearis - Good for screening and makes excellent hedging with aggressive spreading and running - long narrow leaves like grass - sometimes used for roofing - Maximum Height: 14' - Maximum Diameter: 1"

Pleioblastus pygmaeus - A high branching bamboo screen species that is a bit too tall for a hedge - very aggressive spreading - Maximum height: 2' - Maximum diameter: 1/8"

Pleioblastus shibuyanus 'Tsuboi' - Quite rare vigorous growing dwarf bamboo - good screening, excellent hedging with very aggressive spreading, also good attractive container and ground cover plant - small varying white or cream striped leaves - Maximum height: 9' - Maximum diameter: 1/4"

Sasa palmata - Good for a bamboo screen and provides excellent hedging - aggressive spreading - also does well in containers and as a houseplant - leaves are leathery and thick and can be up to 15" long by 2 1/2" wide - grows well in cooler climates - Maximum height: 7' - Maximum diameter: 1/2"

Shibataea kumasaca - Good for screening and excellent for hedging with slow spreading - leaves are short and broad - culms have slightly zigzag internodes and prominent nodes - Maximum height: 7' - Maximum diameter: 1/4"

Shibataea lancifolia - Good for ornamental screening and hedging with moderate spreading - longer and narrower leaves than other species - Maximum height: 7' - Maximum diameter: 1/4"

More...

Following on from your interest in bamboo screens you will also find useful information on following pages