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Bamboo Gardens
Many people don't realize that bamboo is adaptable to the Pacific Northwest. It is usually considered to thrive only in tropical warm weather. The truth is that not all bamboo requires tropical warm weather to grow and flourish. There are over 1200 species throughout the world, and around two hundred hardy species can be grown here in the Pacific Northwest. Those species range from 2 to 50 feet in height (based on when they reach maturity), and the largest type can grow up to 6 inches in diameter.
There are two main types of bamboo: Clumper and Runner bamboo. Clumper bamboo has a very compact root structure, is genetically incapable of expanding more than few inches a year, and will generally form discrete circular clumps. The clumps slowly enlarge as new culms emerge every year, and may ultimately require anywhere from a 3 to 10 feet area (or more, especially for taller types) in order to reach their mature height, depending on species. The dense root system can exert strong pressure on structures in contact with it, and thus clumpers should be planted at some distance from fences, sidewalks, retaining walls, etc. Clumpers make excellent specimen plants and will also form very dense screens, but more slowly than runners. Except for the Fargesias, clumpers tend to be less cold tolerant than runners. Runner bamboo spreads variously, sending out underground runners (rhizomes) which sometimes range far from the parent plant. Runners fill in the spaces between plantings faster, making them ideal for fast screens, hedges, and the popular open grove look. Bamboo runners may be easily contained, since the rhizomes grow sideways at a depth of only about 2-18 inches.
Bamboo Sizes
There are four categories of bamboo sizes. The first category is Timber Bamboos, sometimes called giant bamboo. They grow to gigantic proportions. This group ranges from 25 to over 100 feet high. These are the grove forming bamboo that need free range and big space to attain grand heights and thick hard culms. The second category is Mid-size Bamboos. This group ranges from 8 to over 25 feet high. This group's height is excellent for screening, growing hedges and suitable for small spaces, near foundations and large container plantings. The third category is Shrub Bamboos. This group ranges from 3 to over 8 feet. Many will grow with a mounding mass of leaves and very little culm showing. Use for low hedges, boundaries, fillers, foundation, container or pot plantings and for taller houseplants. There are several different leaf colors, variegated leaf and sizes available. The fourth category is Dwarf Bamboos. This group ranges from 1 to over 3 feet high. Use them as ground cover to create patterns and textures of the gardens or in planters.
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