Short Screen Running Bamboo
Short screening bamboos are slow to moderate spreading. The foliage of these bamboos can range from light green to dark green and can be variegated as well. Most of these bamboos can be used as house plants but extra care will be needed. Indoor air in the winter is dry so daily misting of the leaves will help the plant look better and there will be less leaf loss. Indoor Bamboos will need to be watered and fertilized as often as other house plants. For outdoors, these bamboos are also more tolerant of heat and cold than clumping bamboos. Containment or root pruning 2 times a year will be needed if you want to limit the spread.
Arundinaria Gigantea Tecta Switch Cane
Arundinaria Gigantea Tecta Switch Cane is the one of the only 3 bamboos native to North America. Culms are erect with long leaves. Very effective as a hedge and prefers full sun to part shade with semi moist soil.
| Tolerates | Spread | Min. Temp | Light | Height | Culm Diameter | Culm Features | Leaf Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low Temps. | Moderate | -10 Degrees F | Full Sun | 20 Feet | 1 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bashania Fargessi
A long leafed bamboo that will grow well in semi-shadesimilar in appearance with the Arrow bamboo. Some of the culms have a waxy blue grey coating. This bamboo is known to spread quickly once established. Very good bamboo for screening a somewhat shady area.
| Tolerates | Spread | Min. Temp | Light | Height | Culm Diameter | Culm Features | Leaf Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | Moderate | 5 Degrees F | Part Sun | 20 Feet | 2 Inches | Green - Silver | Long Narrow 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hibanobambusa Tranquillans Shiroshima
Slender stemmed slow running bamboo with boldly variegated green and creamy white leaves 6-10 inches long by up to 1 1/4 inches wide. The growth tips and young leaves are sometimes tinged pink or purple .There are long hairs on leaf sheaths. The variegation persists throughout the year. Prefers part shade with semi moist soil.
| Tolerates | Spread | Min. Temp | Light | Height | Culm Diameter | Culm Features | Leaf Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non Extremes | Slow | 3 Degrees F | Part Sun | 16 Feet | 1.3 Inches | Green | variegated cream and 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Indocalamus Solidus
A large leafed bamboo that will grow well in semi-shade. It is an early sprouter. Its small culms are solid. Solidus makes an attractive small dark green screen. Cold hardy to 0° F. This bamboo is also known to be quite prolific.
| Tolerates | Spread | Min. Temp | Light | Height | Culm Diameter | Culm Features | Leaf Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non Extremes | Fast | 3 Degrees F | Part Sun | 8 Feet | 0.4 Inches | Solid Green | Long Narrow 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Indocalamus Tessalatus Giant Leaf
Giant leaf bamboo has very large leaves up to 4" by 24". This bamboo will grow in heavy shade and is a good choice for erosion control. It is one of the more cold hardy short screen bamboos, staying green down to -10 to -15 F. The canes can get up to 7 feet tall. With it's huge leaves and dense growth, this bamboo makes a fine screen.
| Tolerates | Spread | Min. Temp | Light | Height | Culm Diameter | Culm Features | Leaf Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non Extremes | Moderate | 3 Degrees F | Part Sun | 8 Feet | 0.5 Inches | Green | Giant 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Phyllostachys Humulis
This is the 2nd shortest of all Phyllostachys next to the dwarf henon. Young culms emerge dark red to purple, turning green to orange/yellow in full sun. This short bamboo makes an excellent hedge with dense foliage starting low on the culms.
| Tolerates | Spread | Min. Temp | Light | Height | Culm Diameter | Culm Features | Leaf Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy Pruning | Moderate | 3 Degrees F | Full Sun | 20 Feet | 1 Inch | Short Orange | Small olive 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pleioblastus Simonii "MEDAKE Bamboo"
This bamboo is one of the largest of the Pleioblastus bamboo. It makes a great short to medium screening bamboo for shadier locations. The leaves are long and narrow very much like Arrow Bamboo or Bashania bamboo. The culms are straight and can be used for crafts or small garden stakes.
| Tolerates | Spread | Min. Temp | Light | Height | Culm Diameter | Culm Features | Leaf Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non Extremes | Moderate | 5 Degrees F | Part Sun | 20 Feet | 1.5 Inches | Green | Long 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pseudosasa Japonica Arrow Bamboo
Culms are erect with leaves up to 12 inches long by 1 1/2 inches wide. Branch and culm leaves are persistent. Very effective as a hedge or house plant. Pseudosasa Japonica Arrow Bamboo is very tolerant of wet soil, drought, shade, salty air, and windy conditions. This bamboo is nick named arrow bamboo because in ancient times Japan used the culms to make arrows.
| Tolerates | Spread | Min. Temp | Light | Height | Culm Diameter | Culm Features | Leaf Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shade | Moderate | 5 Degrees F | Part Sun | 18 Feet | 0.8 Inches | Green | Long 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pseudosasa Japonica Tsutsumiana
Culms are erect with leaves up to 12 inches long by 1 1/2 inches wide. This bamboo differs from arrow bamboo by having bulbous culms given the name Geen Onion Bamboo. As with Arrow Bamboo this is effective as a hedge or house plant and is tolerant of wet soil, drought, shade, salty air, and windy conditions.
| Tolerates | Spread | Min. Temp | Light | Height | Culm Diameter | Culm Features | Leaf Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shade | Slow | 5 Degrees F | Part Sun | 18 Feet | 0.8 Inches | Green Bulbous Culms | Long 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Qiongzhuea Tumidissinoda
In ancient times the Chinese used to make walking sticks out of this bamboo giving the name Chinese walking stick bamboo. The culms have swollen disc like nodes. The leaves are narrow and featherlike.
| Tolerates | Spread | Min. Temp | Light | Height | Culm Diameter | Culm Features | Leaf Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shade | Slow | 10 Degrees F | Part Sun | 20 Feet | 1.3 Inches | Green Large Node Culms | Narrow Green Leaves |
Shooting times varies as this variety is best used as an indoor plant for zone 7B.
Sasa Kurilensis "Simofuri"
This bamboo exists in the most Northern region to include parts of Russia. The leaves are very large up to 8 inches long and 2 inches wide with fine dark green and white stripes. The culms emerge pale yellow and curves outward then upward making this a very attractive short screening bamboo.
| Tolerates | Spread | Min. Temp | Light | Height | Culm Diameter | Culm Features | Leaf Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shade | Fast | 0 Degrees F | Shade | 6 - 10 Feet | 0.8 Inches | Pale Yellow | Large Fine Striped Green and White Leaves |
Further research is needed to determine shooting time and hardiness as this is a new variety to this area.
Sasa Palmata
Sasa Palmata has thick, leather like textured leaves that are up to 15 inches long by 2 1/2 inches wide. Culms are mid-green, ripening to yellowish-green with purple and brown blotching near the base. It does well in pots and containers and as a houseplant. Looks best when grown in shade. It is also somewhat drought tolerant.
| Tolerates | Spread | Min. Temp | Light | Height | Culm Diameter | Culm Features | Leaf Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shade | Fast | 0 Degrees F | Shade | 7 Feet | .5 Inches | Green With Purple Spots | Large 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shibataea Kumasasa Ruscus Bamboo
Low shrubby bamboo, with unique small, broad, oval-shaped leaves arranged tightly along zig-zag culms. This bamboo will benefit from a shaded, moist site with acidic soil.
| Tolerates | Spread | Min. Temp | Light | Height | Culm Diameter | Culm Features | Leaf Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shade | Moderate | -5 Degrees F | Part Sun | 7 Feet | .3 Inches | Green Zig-Zag Culms | Green Oval 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Yushania Anceps Pitt White
Yushania Anceps Pitt White has a similar appearance to Fargesias with a weeping habit and long narrow green leaves. This bamboo is a spreading bamboo. If you enjoy the look of a Fargesia but want to have a larger screen faster Yushania Anceps Pitt White is your best choice. Pitt White is larger than other Yushania bamboos.
| Tolerates | Spread | Min. Temp | Light | Height | Culm Diameter | Culm Features | Leaf Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shade | Slow | 10 Degrees F | Part Sun | 25 Feet | .5 Inches | Weeping Green Culms | Narrow 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||