Bamboo Plant

Bamboo is a woody perennial grass, and the running type we ship spreads by underground rhizomes into a dense screen. We ship bamboo plants bare-root in 1-2, 2-3 and 3-4 foot sizes, in packs of 25, 50, 100 and 500, for privacy screens, windbreaks, hedges and large properties.

Bamboo Plant Size, Zones and Sun

Plant bamboo in full sun, in zones 4-9, and give it room to climb past 10 feet. Underground there is a network of rhizomes, and the true roots grow from those. The jointed canes you see above ground are called culms.

Running Bamboo and How It Spreads

A running bamboo sends rhizomes out sideways and pushes up new culms along them, so a single planting thickens into a grove. Rhizomes usually stay within the top foot of soil, and where nothing blocks them they can travel 100 feet or more from the parent plant. Clumping types, such as fountain bamboo (Fargesia), stay compact instead.

Bamboo for Privacy Screens

Set in a row, bamboo fills in as a living wall that breaks the wind and blocks sight lines. For other screening choices, see our picks of fast privacy plants for suburban yards.

Good to Know About Bamboo

Plan the boundary before planting. Sink a barrier of at least 60 mil polypropylene or HDPE, 30 to 36 inches wide, around the planting, and leave 6 to 8 inches above ground so you can see any rhizome that tries to cross it. In spring, cut or knock down stray shoots while they are tender. Some states regulate running bamboo, so check local rules before ordering. Our windbreak and privacy tree list has more options if you want a mixed screen.

Bamboo Sizes, Packs and Shipping

Bamboo plants ship bare-root in November, in 1-2, 2-3 and 3-4 foot sizes and packs of 25, 50, 100 and 500. Volume pricing available. Browse more shrubs for sale.