With the increase in the interest in landscape grasses, some people have started using species of bamboo in their landscapes. Although only two species of the type of grass are native to the United States, there are about 7,000 around the world.

Bamboo is most commonly associated with tropical areas but several of them are winter hardy into USDA Hardiness Zone 5 and are worth a try in that climate. Of course, areas in warmer zones such as 8 through 10 have a multitude of bamboos from which to choose.

Most bamboos form a woody or semi-woody stem although some of them act as herbaceous perennials in colder climates just like Miscanthus and other ornamental grasses. The grow from the crown in the ground just like most monocotyledons.

Of all the types of ornamental plants you might put into your garden, it is perhaps most important to become familiar with the bamboos BEFORE you plant them. Many of them are very nice landscape plants that stay in their place while others may become rampant beasts that devour nearby plants as they spread far and wide.

Generally, like all grass species, there are two types of growth habit for bamboo. Some species are called clump bamboo. When one of these is transplanted, it will spread slowly with an expansion of the original plant forming a well-defined clump. These types are usually quite easy to keep in place by merely chopping off sections that begin to encroach on neighboring plants.

The other growth habit for this groups of plants are called running bamboo and that is exactly what they do. Just like the common quackgrass, they spread by underground stems called rhizomes which can snake out in all directions from the original plant. Before you know it, they may take over major portions of your garden. Also, like quackgrass, they can be very difficult to control. If only a small part of the rhizome survives, it can rather quickly recreate the original plant. So, be extremely careful when you buy bamboo to know what your are getting.

This does not mean that you should avoid all of the running types that might be hardy for your area. It does mean that you might need to use some special gardening techniques for preventing its spread. Check out our page on "Garden Gangsters" for more on this topic.

Several species of bamboo fall into the running type category. Those in the genus, Arundinacea and many others that may be labeled as "vigorous growers" in the plant catalog or on the plant tag.  So, be wary, but have some fun with bamboo as another form of grass to provide a vertical accent in your landscape.