New young bamboo canes or shoots. (click on photo to enlarge and for more information)
Leaves of the Bamboo. (click on photo to enlarge and for more information)
Culms (stocks or canes). (click on photo to enlarge and for more information)
Bamboo
These strong giant grasses are very attractive. In gardens and landscapes they make attractive graceful evergreen screens and windbreaks. They are great for meditation gardens. They are used for food, flooring and the manufacture of paper as well as various types of construction.
See the photo's of a few Clumping and Spreading varieties of Bamboo on the respective pages for them on this web site.
Clumping Bamboo
Clumping bamboo generally does not grow quite as tall as the spreading varieties. It usually has smaller canes. Clumping Bamboo spreads slowly and does not usually need to be contained. For a good natural screen plant the clumping varieties of bamboo 2 to 3 feet apart and it will quickly fill in the gaps. They also make a spectacular container plant. Remember your Hooked On Palms supplier can get over 100 varieties of cold hardy bamboo.
The spreading types of bamboo typically grow taller and have larger canes than the clumping types. You can restrain the spreading by harvesting the shoots. (Cut the new shoots below the soil line shortly after they emerge in the spring). They are delicious sliced and sauteed in stir fry. Because bamboo have a shallow root system you can surround the bamboo with a barrier of plastic or sheet metal. the barrier must go down at least 20" in to the soil to contain the plant. Mowing is also a way to contain the spreading types of bamboo. To use them in a screen, plant them 4 to 6 feet apart. and it will quickly fill in the gaps. They also make excellent container plants. Remember your Hooked On Palms supplier can get over 100 varieties of cold hardy bamboo.
