The Allure of Bamboo
With their exotic, complex textures and colors, bamboos are truly seductive plants. The evidence of many such past romances can be seen in the countryside, where plantings of golden bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea) escaped old homesteads. This species spreads by underground rhizomes, often rampantly. Also known as fishing-pole bamboo, P. aurea is native to Asia and was reportedly introduced in Alabama in 1882. The common name golden bamboo is a misnomer, as the color of the culms (commonly called canes or stalks) is actually green. It may be confused with North America’s only native bamboo, Arundinaria gigantea, known as switchcane or canebrake. Our native bamboo is much shorter (6 to 20 feet), while golden bamboo grows 16 to 40 feet. Also, native bamboo has a generally more cylindrical stem.
Bamboos are undeniably beautiful. The culm colors alone—there are greens, blues, yellows, blacks, browns and reds to choose from—can make a gardener drool. But you need to do some research before deciding what kind, if any, to plant, and what you want its purpose to be in your garden or yard. Depending on species, the roots of bamboo grow either in tight clumps (clumping bamboo) or expand laterally via rhizomes (running bamboo). Bamboos from temperate parts of the world are usually running types; clumpers are less cold-hardy. Bamboo is popular as a fast-growing screen or privacy fence—but remember that fences only “make good neighbors” if they’re not muscling into your neighbor’s yard; neither do you want to plant bamboo near sensitive natural habitats. You can adequately contain running bamboo using trenches, concrete and/or specialty rhizome barriers (it may also be grown in pots but will require extra care to provide proper moisture and nutrients). Running bamboo has ropy roots that can resemble steel cables—to say you will dig bamboo back in bounds in a few years is not a good plan. You can learn specifics about constructing proper barriers and other bamboo information (growing tips, plant suppliers, crafts, literature) from the American Bamboo Society (www.americanbamboo.org). The society has a Southeast Chapter based in Georgia (e-mail se-chapter@americanbamboo.org).