Bamboo as bonsai

Bamboo is a fabulous plant, it is as diverse as they come and can attain stunning heights as well as be content in dwarf forms too. It is also multi faceted as the species are really diverse, so some have unusual features that look like knobs on the stems (enlarged internodes), while others have stripes, or are variegated. Some are green, others are blue to blueish green and even black or purple with large to small leaves, some more delicate than others and some more hardy and robust than others too. The most important thing to remember with bamboo though is that they spread quickly so if you are thinking of planting them, ensure you use a root barrier or some form of root containment unless that is your plan. The other key thing is that they are moisture lovers, so try not to let them dry out and keep them moist at all times as this will ensure a good healthy foliage colour and also new shoots to form well.

There are a range of genera and from that is a huge species list and the most common are: –

• Arundinaria gigantea
• Bambusa multiplex (Hedge bamboo as height range is 3-5 metres)
• Chimonobambusa quadrangularis (Square stemmed bamboo)
• Chusquea culeou (Foxtail Bamboo)
• Fargesia and a very hardy species is Fargesia robusta
• Himalayacalamus hookerianus (Blue bamboo)
• Indocalamus
• x Phyllosasa
• Phyllostachys and an excellent example is Phyllostachys nigra (Black bamboo) or that of Phyllostachys bambusoides (Giant timber bamboo that grows inexcess of 24-25 metres in height)
• Pleioblastus and Pleioblastus linearis (Okinawa bamboo) is often used as a 3-4 metre screening hedge
• Pseudosasa japonica (Arrow bamboo)
• Sasa veitchii (Kuma bamboo grass)
• Sasaella
• Sasamorpha borealis
• Semiarundinaria fastuosa (Narihira bamboo) makes a taller hedge but also is a good clump forming bamboo
• Shibataea and Shibataea kumasasa is widely grown in Korakuen gardens in Tokyo
• Sinarundinaria
• Thamnocalamus crassinodus ‘Kew Beauty’
• Yushania

Examples of small forms include: –

• Pleioblastus auricomus (Dwarf greenstripe)
• Pleioblastus pygmaeus (Pygmy bamboo or dwarf fern bamboo and often used for roof gardens as it is hard wearing and low growing)
• Pleioblastus pygmaeus var. distichus (Smaller and up to 20-30cm at most)
• Pleioblastus variegatus (Dwarf white striped bamboo)
• Pleioblastus viridistriatus
• Pleioblastus viridistriatus var. chryospyllus
• Sasa veitchii (Kuma bamboo grass, a variegated form)
• Shibataea kumasasa

Here are a few images of bamboo, but there are so many that if you are interested then visit some of the gardens around the country that have collections including Kew Gardens, Sir Harold Hiller Gardens (Arboretum) and also try bamboo specialists like Scent Sational Plants Bamboo garden nursery in Fordingbridge. In addition to making an awesome contribution to the garden, they make great accents, or plants in pots aka bonsai so have a look around and see what you can find.