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Bamboo as a Hedge or Privacy Screen

Posted on | February 10, 2010 | No Comments

About two decades ago, I had my bamboo-epiphany while working in the West Indies and in South America.

Guadua angustifolia

Guadua angustifolia

The massive, timber bamboos (mostly Bambusa vulgaris and Guadua angustifolia) were impressive and I was sure I should grow these in my South Florida garden. I did eventually plant both species in my home garden but soon learned that timber bamboos were not necessarily the best choice for a relatively small space. The lesson learned was that, as with all plant groups, it’s important to choose the right variety for the application.

Many different tropical bamboo species and varieties were imported through U.S. quarantine stations in the 1990’s by the American Bamboo Society. By the end of the decade, I had plenty of options for just about any bamboo-application in any tropical garden. There were bamboos that matured at sizes 3′ tall up to 100′ tall. There were different overall forms, different leaf sizes, and several different culm colors. Some came with striated culms and some with variegated leaves. All were non-invasive, clumping bamboos. I became somewhat of a clumping bamboo snob. Running bamboos were invasive “weeds” and my belief was supported by emails and phone calls from people pleading for instructions to get rid their invasive bamboo.
Of course, I was ignorant and I failed to realize that those cases represented people who planted the wrong type of running bamboo in the location it was planted. Or, they failed to install the bamboo with a rhizome barrier. In South Florida, we cannot successfully grow many of the running bamboos because they are generally temperates – it gets too hot in our summers and not cool enough in our winters. Since my original snobbery, I’ve traveled worldwide and have seen amazing temperate bamboo gardens. Gardeners always covet what we can’t grow and I certainly now wish I could grow many of these ornamental temperate bamboos.

OK, the subject of this blog is: Bamboo as a Hedge or Privacy Screen. Sorry for the seemingly unrelated preface! Let me explain…
You may find temperate bamboo growers who claim that clumping bamboos make a poor hedge and running bamboos are superior as hedge material. This is surely based on the same ignorance that I had years ago. They’re either unfamiliar with all of the clumping bamboos or they’ve only been exposed to the clumping species that do not belong in a screening application. Of course, they also could be simply trying to sell what they grow. Seriously, aren’t traditional hedge plants just individual trees or shrubs that are planted in a row? In my climate, Ixora, Cherry, Podocarpus, Orange Jasmine, Cocoplum, and Silver Buttonwood do not “run” but do form nice hedges when planted for that purpose.
There are many temperate, running bamboo species that are not appropriate for hedging because of their mature size, form, or culm spacing. Some of the more popular and appropriate species are Phyllostachys aruea, Phyllostachys aureosulcata (either Yellow Groove or Spectabilis), and Phyllostachys humilis. All should be maintained by root pruning or a rhizome barrier can be installed prior to planting to control the growth pattern.
There are also many tropical, clumping bamboo species that are not appropriate for hedging for the same reasons as the temperates.

Bambusa textilis gracilis hedge

Bambusa textilis gracilis hedgeBambusa textilis gracilis hedge

Some of the more appropriate species (from smaller to larger) are Bambusa multiplex riviereorum, Bambusa glaucophylla, Bambusa textilis Gracilis, Bambusa malingensis, and Bambusa oldhamii. They are planted 3’ to 6’ on centers, depending on the species and screening requirements. They don’t generally require root pruning and will clump together to form a homogenous row of bamboo. Old culms can be culled out over time, the roots/rhizome can be selectively pruned, if desired, and the entire hedge – top and/or sides can be shaped, if desired.

For a complete list of the best tropical clumping bamboos for screening, there is a search feature within the Tropical Bamboo Nursery website – Click HERE to search.  Just check the Hedging/Screening/Privacy box, and any other applicable parameters, to reveal your options.
Robert Saporito
Tropical Bamboo Nursery & Gardens
www.TropicalBamboo.com

Bamboo Hedge Maze - Bambusa textilis gracilis

Bamboo Hedge Maze - Bambusa textilis gracilis

Category: Bamboo gardening
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