If you love bamboo. You probably already know that there are a million different types of bamboo, all of which grow in various shapes and sizes. Bamboo is beautiful, and here are some of the best kinds available:
- Gold Bamboo
- Black Bamboo
- Buddha Bamboo
- Japanese Arrow Bamboo
- Blue Bamboo
If you are growing bamboo in your garden keep in mind that most types are very vigorous and spread throughout a plot like wildfire.
I would recommend only planting it in containers unless you want to plant non-invasive bamboo.
#1. Golden Bamboo.
Golden Bamboo is a real favorite when you want bamboo that magically changes colors in sunlight and shade.
It canes can look a rich yellow when light is on them, and a cool green when in the shade.
Its Chinese name is Hotei Chiku. It has heavy nodes on its lower, stems and arrow shapped long leaves.
This kind of bamboo is very graceful and commonly used for borders.
#2. Black Bamboo.
You’ll you’ll love this bamboo, it has long, black stems with bright leaves.
The stems start out green and then turn black once they get old.
You can expect this species of bamboo to reach up to five meters in height, which will provide an excellent dark screen.
Black Bamboo is a really unique species of bamboo, and many are taken by the dramatic stems.
This bamboo also has lush green foliage making it a a stunning backdrop in a garden or nursery.
#3. Buddha Bamboo.
Anyone who loves the bumpy, bobbly shape of a bamboo stem will love Buddha Bamboo.
It has swollen nodules along its canes, often with tiny rootlets making a skirt beneath.
If you’re bored with the smooth canes of other varieties, you’d love the shapeliness of this bamboo.
As the name suggests, these nodules look very much like the belly of a Buddha, and this form of bamboo is in great demand as an ornamental plant.
This plant has dense foliage, and as it grows taller, it will slowly bend over under its own weight.
It is an excellent selection because it is non-invasive, though it does reach only about eight feet tall. So in some situations, it may be less useful as a screening.
Even Better: If you want a shorter, smaller plant, there is also a dwarf Buddha Bamboo that you can buy.
#4. Japanese Arrow Bamboo.
Legend has it that this bamboo was named for the Japanese samurais, who presumably used its canes for arrow making.
This variety is a native species, not surprisingly to parts of Japan. It is also a native species to Korea and will grow in warmer zones in the US.
It is tall variety and can reach zealous near twenty feet tall, given the right environment. If you grow it in those warmer places, it can spread rapidly.
It has narrow green leaves, and I’ve heard some people saying that arrows come from it because the leaves look like arrows.
#5. Hedge Bamboo.
The stunning turquoise shade of Hedge Bamboo in its early stage is worth noting, it goes yellow as it matures but is still lovely and with a great coverage.
Hedge bamboo will grow very thick, therefore would serve as a good screening option.
#6. Dwarf Green Stripe Bamboo.
If you want some bamboo with great variegated foliage, this is a nice option.
It should be pruned in the spring to re-shoot well.
As the name implies, it is a short bamboo, and is only going to be about four feet tall.
It prefers to be planted in partial shade, and it will hold on to some of its leaves all year long.
In winter it may look a bit ugly and patchy, and may drop some foliage.
#7. Painted Bamboo.
Painted bamboo is truly remarkable.
It has beautiful golden canes patterned with magnificent vertical stripes.
Some canes may be almost entirely green or yellow, and almost all of them will regularly have some degree of green and yellow flaring up the canes at one stage in the rapid growth cycle (this may look distinct from node to node, with some nodes very apparent and others less so).
Under optimal growing conditions, this bamboo could reach sixty feet in height, and while this bamboo is invasive in certain ways it is worth noting may be less of a concern growing within a garden.
It is worth discussing if you are thinking about planting this as part of a garden since it does require some space to spread, and it is highly competitive. If you allow it to grow it could potentially dominate the area and shade large parts of the garden.
#8. Blue Bamboo.
Blue Bamboo is named for the soft blue bloom that covers its canes.
It is a non-invasive species, and a nice option for the garden; It can grow to enjoy heights of up to twenty-five feet.
The canes are delightfully patchy in bloom, going from pale blue to deep green.
On the whole, there will be a cool color in the garden, with pops of very bright green foliage to speak to the paler tones.
The bamboo is also reasonably cold hardy, and a good option if you aren’t in the warm area of the tropics.
The majority of bamboo need heat, but Blue Bamboo is capacity of withstanding temps down to 21 degrees F.
Conclusion
There’s a boatload of different bamboos, but these eight are especially cool, due to their interesting shapes and colors.
No matter what look it is that you are trying to achieve in your garden, check which varieties are best suited to the climate you are growing in.
And if you decide to use an invasive species, control it before planting it or it will overrun your garden.