Clumping Bamboo Plants

Clumping bamboos can be used in a small garden without containment or root pruning.  We have both semi-tropical clumping bamboos and cold hardy temperate clumping bamboos.  Semi-Tropical clumping bamboos such as Bambusas are best suited for zone 7 and up and will need some protection from the cold in zone 7 by heavy mulching and a slightly warmer microclimate.  Cold hardy temperate clumping bamboos such as Fargesias are best suited for climate zones 5 through 7 but will need protection from the hot after noon sun in zone 7.

Bambusa Multiplex "Alphonse Karr"

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Bright yellow culms with green vertical stripes and dark green leaves. New shoots appear pink.  Culms grow very close to one another with numerous branches sprout from each node or joint on the culms. This clumping bamboo needs protection from extreme cold temperatures.  Bambusa Multiplex Alphonse Karr does very well in full sun and is somewhat drought tolerant but will benefit from watering 2 - 3 times per week.
Tolerates Spread Min. Temp Light Height Culm Diameter Culm Features Leaf Features
Non Extremes Clumping 18 Degrees F Full Sun 25 Feet 1.5 Inches Yellow with Green Stripes Green with White Stripes
Usual Shooting Times In Zone 7B (Varies depending on weather patterns and microclimates.)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Bambusa Multiplex "Green Alphonse Karr"

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Bright green culms without the yellow green vertical stripes.  Like Alphonse it has the dark green leaves with occasional stripes. Culms grow very close to one another with numerous branches sprout from each node or joint on the culms. This clumping bamboo needs protection from extreme cold temperatures.  Bambusa Multiplex Alphonse Karr does very well in full sun and is somewhat drought tolerant but will benefit from watering 2 - 3 times per week.
Tolerates Spread Min. Temp Light Height Culm Diameter Culm Features Leaf Features
Non Extremes Clumping 18 Degrees F Full Sun 15 Feet 1.5 Inches Green with Dark Green Stripes Green
Usual Shooting Times In Zone 7B (Varies depending on weather patterns and microclimates.)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
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Bambusa Multiplex "Fern Leaf"

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An excellent hedge bamboo, named for the tiny fern-like leaves per branch.  This clumping bamboo also likes full sun and will need protection from extreme cold temperatures.  Like other Bambusa bamboos this is drought tolerant but will benefit from watering 2 -3 times per week until fully established.  This bamboo will remain evergreen down to 18 degrees F. but will leaf out again in June if the temperatures do not go much lower.
Tolerates Spread Min. Temp Light Height Culm Diameter Culm Features Leaf Features
Non Extremes Clumping 18 Degrees F Full Sun 20 Feet 0.5 Inch Green Small Green Fern-like Leaves
Usual Shooting Times In Zone 7B (Varies depending on weather patterns and microclimates.)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Bambusa Multiplex "Golden"

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Bambusa Multiplex Golden is very similiar to the Bambusa Multiplex Fern leaf except the culms are more golden.This clumping bamboo also likes full sun and will need protection from extreme cold temperatures.  Like other Bambusa bamboos this is drought tolerant but will benefit from watering 2 -3 times per week until fully established.  This bamboo will remain evergreen down to 18 degrees F. but will leaf out again in June if the temperatures do not go much lower.
Tolerates Spread Min. Temp Light Height Culm Diameter Culm Features Leaf Features
Non Extremes Clumping 18 Degrees F Full Sun 10 Feet 0.5 Inch Green Small Green Fern-like Leaves
Usual Shooting Times In Zone 7B (Varies depending on weather patterns and microclimates.)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Bambusa Multiplex "Hedge Bamboo"

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Bambusa Multiplex is the most cold hardy of the Bambusa Multiplexes. Similar to the Bambusa Multiplex Fern leaf except the leaves are larger. Like other Bambusa bamboos this is drought tolerant but will benefit from watering 2 -3 times per week until fully established.  This bamboo will remain evergreen down to 18 degrees F. but will leaf out again in June if the temperatures do not go much lower.
Tolerates Spread Min. Temp Light Height Culm Diameter Culm Features Leaf Features
Drought Clumping 18 Degrees F Full Sun 25 Feet 1.5 Inch Green Green
Usual Shooting Times In Zone 7B (Varies depending on weather patterns and microclimates.)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Bambusa Multiplex "Riviereorum"

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A smaller bamboo than the other Bambusas.  This clumping bamboo as well likes full sun and will need protection from extreme cold temperatures.  Like other Bambusa bamboos this is drought tolerant but will benefit from watering 2 -3 times per week until fully established.  This bamboo will remain evergreen down to 18 degrees F. but will leaf out again in June if the temperatures do not go much lower.
Tolerates Spread Min. Temp Light Height Culm Diameter Culm Features Leaf Features
Non Extremes Clumping 18 Degrees F Full Sun 6 Feet 0.5 Inch Green Small Green Leaves
Usual Shooting Times In Zone 7B (Varies depending on weather patterns and microclimates.)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Bambusa Multiplex "Silverstripe"

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Bambusa Multiplex Silverstripe is the most common giant tropical bamboo sold and grown in the U.S.  The culms are straight and erect with relatively short branches. The leaves are wider than other bambusas with random white stripes as well as an ocassional white stripe on the culms.  This clumping bamboo also prefers full sun and will need protection from cold temperatures.  Like other Bambusa bamboos this is drought tolerant but will benefit from watering 2 -3 times per week until fully established.  This bamboo will remain evergreen down to 18 degrees F. but will leaf out again in June.
Tolerates Spread Min. Temp Light Height Culm Diameter Culm Features Leaf Features
Non Extremes Clumping 18 Degrees F Full Sun 25 Feet 1.5 Inches Green with Silver Stripes Green with Silver Stripes
Usual Shooting Times In Zone 7B (Varies depending on weather patterns and microclimates.)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Bambusa Multiplex Willowy

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Like Bambusa Multiplex "Golden" it is a smaller Bambusa but the culms have a weeping habit.  This clumping bamboo as well likes full sun and will need protection from extreme cold temperatures.  Like other Bambusa bamboos this is drought tolerant but will benefit from watering 2 -3 times per week until fully established.  This bamboo will remain evergreen down to 18 degrees F. but will leaf out again in June if the temperatures do not go much lower.
Tolerates Spread Min. Temp Light Height Culm Diameter Culm Features Leaf Features
Non Extremes Clumping 18 Degrees F Full Sun 10 Feet 0.5 Inches Green weeping habit Green
Usual Shooting Times In Zone 7B (Varies depending on weather patterns and microclimates.)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Bambusa Oldhamii

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Bambusa Oldhamii or Giant Timber is one of the largest of the Bambusa species that is commonly sold today.  It is less cold hardy than the Bambusa Multiplexes but can be used as in indoor plant in colder areas but will need a sunny window.  Only under ideal outside growing conditions will the bamboo reaches its full mature height and culm diameter.  Like other Bambusa bamboos this is drought tolerant but will benefit from watering 2 -3 times per week until fully established.  
Tolerates Spread Min. Temp Light Height Culm Diameter Culm Features Leaf Features
Heat Clumping 21 Degrees F Full Sun 55 Feet 4 Inches Green Green
Shooting times varies as this variety is best used as an indoor plant for zone 7B.

Bambusa Multiplex Textilis 'Gracilis'

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Another great clumping bamboo for zone 7 and 8 but will need to be in a sunny and protected micro-climate.  This is a tight clumping bamboo with slender culms with graceful foliage.  Can be used as a specimen or as a large hedge bamboo. As with other bambusas this can reach 30 feet tall in a few years providing there is not an extreme cold winter.  If there is top growth damage it can re-sprout from the roots if properly mulched.
Tolerates Spread Min. Temp Light Height Culm Diameter Culm Features Leaf Features
Heat Clumping 18 Degrees F Full Sun 30 Feet 1.3 Inches Slender Green Green
Further research is needed to determine shooting time and hardiness as this is a new variety to this area.

Bambusa Multiplex Textilis Weaver's Bamboo

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Another Bambusa Textilis very similar to Bambusa Textilis Gracilis. Needs and hardiness are the same  The culms are taller and wider and gets its name for the easy ability to split the culms to be used in weaving crafts such as baskets and other crafts.  The leaves are high up on the culms giving a tidy appearance below.
Tolerates Spread Min. Temp Light Height Culm Diameter Culm Features Leaf Features
Heat Clumping 18 Degrees F Full Sun 40 Feet 2 Inches Green Green
Further research is needed to determine shooting time and hardiness as this is a new variety to this area.

Borinda Angustissima

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This is one of the few clumping bamboos that does well in zone 7.  It has long arching purple stems with feathery green leaves.  Borindas are hardy down to 10 degrees F.  In the south it prefers moist, partially shaded sites.  Like Fargesias, this bamboo originates from the mountain regions of China.
Tolerates Spread Min. Temp Light Height Culm Diameter Culm Features Leaf Features
Non Extremes Clumping 10 Degrees F Partial Shade 18 Feet 1 Inch Blue-Green Small Dark Green
Usual Shooting Times In Zone 7B (Varies depending on weather patterns and microclimates.)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Borinda Boliana

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Another Borinda that does well in zone 7.  It has long arching blue stems with medium sized light green leaves.  Borindas are hardy down to 10 degrees F.  In the south it prefers moist, partially shaded sites.  This variety is the largest and most sold of all borindas.
Tolerates Spread Min. Temp Light Height Culm Diameter Culm Features Leaf Features
Non Extremes Clumping 10 Degrees F Partial Shade 50 Feet 2 Inches Blue-Green Medium Green
Usual Shooting Times In Zone 7B (Varies depending on weather patterns and microclimates.)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Fargesia Robusta

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Fargesia Robusta is one of the tallest-growing Fargesias. Very vigorous growth with wide, dark-green leaves and dense foliage. Beautiful checker board color pattern on new shoots. It is an extremely hardy bamboo and one of the few hardy clumpers that can handle both the Summer and Winter in the Southeast.  It will also benefit from shade with moist soil. 
Tolerates Spread Min. Temp Light Height Culm Diameter Culm Features Leaf Features
Shade Clumping 0 Degrees F Shade 16 Feet 1 Inch Upright Green Culms Green
Usual Shooting Times In Zone 7B (Varies depending on weather patterns and microclimates.)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Fargesia Rufa

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Fargesia Rufa only grows to about 8 feet tall when mature, but is a vigorous grower, sending up many new culms each season. The new culms are orange / red and leaf out early in the summer, making it an excellent choice where its rapid growth is desired. It is an extremely hardy bamboo and one of the few hardy clumpers that can handle both the Summer and Winter in the Southeast,  It will still benefit from shade with moist soil. 
Tolerates Spread Min. Temp Light Height Culm Diameter Culm Features Leaf Features
Shade Clumping -5 Degrees F Shade 8 Feet 0.5 Inch Weeping Red Culms Green
Usual Shooting Times In Zone 7B (Varies depending on weather patterns and microclimates.)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec