15 Interesting Types of Bamboo You Can Actually Grow Right at Home

Tortoiseshell Bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis 'Heterocycla')

Tortoiseshell Bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis var. heterocycla) is called Kikkou-chiku in Japan and is used in traditional crafts including floor pillars and flower vases. The rare bamboo can reach up to four inches wide with the nodes most prominent at the base of the plant.

The leaves are small, paper thin, and pale green on the upper side and darker underneath. This bamboo spreads and prefers fertile, moist, well-draining soil.

Plant in full sun to partial shade. Susceptible to rust, stem smut, and slug damage. It can be propagated by clump division.

• Name: Tortoiseshell Bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis 'Heterocycla')
• Hardiness Zones: 7-10
• Mature Height: 15-25 feet
  

Variegated Bamboo (Pleioblastus fortunei 'Tsuboi')

A variegated bamboo, Pleioblastus fortunei 'Tsuboi', is perfect for a short hedge or container planting. A small-leafed bamboo, each leaf has a white stripe in the center. Cold hardy and versatile, it spreads quickly to fill a space.

• Name: Pleioblastus fortunei 'Tsuboi'
• Hardiness Zones: 4-10
• Mature Height: 2-4 feet
  

Black Bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra)

Black bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra) is a vigorous running bamboo that can quickly become invasive. The canes begin as olive green and become a mottled brown-black before becoming jet black at around 2 to 3 years of age.

The plants tolerate full sun to partial shade and prefer moist but well-draining soil. The plants are deer-resistant and do well as a privacy hedge or in containers. Once established, this species is very difficult to eradicate.

• Name: Black Bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra)
• Hardiness Zones: 7-11
• Mature Height: 15-25 feet
  

Asian Lemon Bamboo (Bambusa eutuldoides viridi-vittata)

A clumping bamboo, Asian Lemon Bamboo works well as a privacy screen, accent plant, or large container plant. It is cold-tolerant down to the upper 20 F. and will flourish in full sun to partial shade. The plant loves moist, well-draining soil and responds well to regular watering and organic fertilizer.

• Name: Asian Lemon Bamboo (Bambusa eutuldoides viridi-vittata)
• Hardiness Zones: 9-11
• Mature Height: 25 feet
  

Clumping bamboo (Fargesia robusta 'Campbell')

A clumping bamboo, Fargesia robusta 'Campbell', is an excellent choice as an upright, narrow privacy screen. The first introduction of this species into the Western world was from Sichuan, China. 

It boasts dark green foliage and light green culms, with new shoots that are hairy and rusty red upon emergence from the ground in early spring. This bamboo is more sun tolerant than most clumping bamboo.

• Name: Fargesia robusta 'Campbell'
• Hardiness Zones: 5-8
• Mature Height: 12-15 feet
  

Giant Bamboo (Dendrocalamus giganteus)

Giant bamboo (Dendrocalamus giganteus), also known as dragon bamboo or giant timber bamboo, is a giant tropical and subtropical species native to Southeast Asia. It forms dramatic dense clumps 40 to 50 feet wide and up to 100 feet tall. The culms can grow up to 12 inches per day and prefer full sun and rich, moist, well-draining soil.

• Name: Giant bamboo (Dendrocalamus giganteus)
• Hardiness Zones: 9-11
• Mature Height: 80-100 feet
  

Red bamboo (Fargesia nitida)

Red bamboo (Fargesia nitida) is a non-invasive, clumping bamboo with finely textured foliage and striking red canes. As the canes age, they turn yellow as a complementary contrast. It is more cold-hardy than other bamboo and is suitable as an evergreen choice for hedges or privacy screening.

• Name: Red bamboo (Fargesia nitida)
• Hardiness Zones: 5-8
• Mature Height: 6-8 feet
  

Fargesia robusta 'Asian Wonder'

An umbrella bamboo, Asian Wonder (Fargesia robusta var. Asian Wonder) is a low-maintenance, non-spreading plant with purple-blue canes when juvenile with orange-tinged sheaths, turning olive-green when older.

Once established, it does require occasional watering during dry periods and minimal pruning to remove dead or damaged canes. It's also considered deer-resistant.

• Name: Asian Wonder (Fargesia robusta var. Asian Wonder)
• Hardiness Zones: 5-9
• Mature Height: 6-9 feet
  

Alphonse Karr (Bambusa Multiplex)

Alphonse Karr bamboo, Bambusa Multiplex, features brightly striped canes of yellow and green that grow to 30 to 40 feet. As an added point of interest, new shoots are pink. A clumping bamboo, it forms compact, symmetrical circles that are easy to maintain. Alphonse Karr works well as a container plant or as a garden privacy hedge. 

• Name: Alphonse Karr (Bambusa Multiplex)
• Hardiness Zones: 8-11
• Mature Height: 30-40 feet
  

Umbrella bamboo (Fargesia murieliae)

Fargesia murieliae is a hardy bamboo offering a cascading canopy of evergreen foliage with new shoots appearing as light blue with tan culm sheaths and aging to a yellowish-green. It does not have running rhizomes making it easy to contain.

It's also considered deer-resistant. It is not recommended for climates with a lot of intense heat or high summer humidity. 

• Name: Umbrella bamboo (Fargesia murieliae)
• Hardiness Zones: 5-9
• Mature Height: 10-14 feet
  

Dwarf bamboo (Sasaella ramosa)

Sasaella ramosa or dwarf bamboo typically reaches no more than 1.5 ft. tall. It is a highly aggressive and dominant runner that works well for erosion control on slopes. To keep a uniform height as a ground cover, it should be trimmed back to ground level each March, just before new shoots begin to appear.

• Name: Dwarf bamboo (Sasaella ramosa)
• Hardiness Zones: 7
• Mature Height: 1.5-6 feet
  

Silver Bird (Fargesia murielae var. 'Silver Bird')

A variety of Fargesia murielae, Silver Bird bamboo has small, rich green leaves with a bluish-silver underside. When exposed to strong sunlight, the bamboo turns its leaves to reveal the silvery underside. New shoots are reddish, changing to thin green or yellow canes as they age. While easy to contain, the plant has a sprawling but dense form.

• Name: Silver Bird (Fargesia murielae var. Silver Bird)
• Hardiness Zones: 5-9
• Mature Height: 10-13 feet
  

Fargesia dracocephala sp. 'Rufa' var. 'Green Panda'

Green Panda bamboo (Fargesia dracocephala sp. 'Rufa' var. 'Green Panda'  ) is a vigorous, non-invasive clumping plant. Reaching only 10 feet, it produces many new rusty red culms each season.

A hardy bamboo, it tolerates lower temperatures well and does not thrive in hot, humid conditions. If planted in full sun, some afternoon shade is preferred.

• Name: Fargesia dracocephala sp. 'Rufa' var. 'Green Panda'  
• Hardiness Zones: 5-8
• Mature Height: 6-10 feet
  

Golden Bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea)

Golden bamboo, (Phyllostachys aurea), also called fishpole bamboo, is one of the most common bamboo in the United States. Growing rigidly upright, it is an aggressive spreader.

The culms begin as green but when exposed to direct sunlight the canes will become yellow. A dense, bushy bamboo, the foliage can be left at ground level or pruned to expose the canes.

• Name: Golden Bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea)
• Hardiness Zones: 4-10
• Mature Height: 15-35 feet
  

Crookstem bamboo (Phyllostachys aureosulcata var. 'Alata')

To add interest to a bamboo garden, Crookstem bamboo (Phyllostachys aureosulcata var. 'Alata') offers abrupt zig-zags in the lower portion of one out of about 10 culms.

It is one of the hardiest bamboos and despite the zig-zags grows rigidly upright. Alata is the all-green form of the crookstem Yellow Groove Bamboo that has a yellow stripe on a dark green culm.

• Name: Crookstem bamboo (Phyllostachys aureosulcata var. 'Alata')
• Hardiness Zones: 5-10
• Mature Height: 25-30 feet