Bambusa vulgaris

RHS Plant Profile

common bamboo

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Other common names

feathery bamboo

Bamboos

Giant evergreen clump-forming bamboo species cultivated in tropical and subtropical parts of the world. Reaches upwards of 20m in height in its native habitat and produces vast thickets of upright then arching usually bright green or green-striped yellow canes averaging 4-10cm diameter, and mid-green leaves to 25cm long

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam

Max Height

Higher than 12 metres

Max Spread

wider than 8 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 10–20 years
Max Spread: wider than 8 metres
Max Height: Higher than 12 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H1C

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Poaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Clump forming
Genus: A large, vigorous and hardy genus of clump-forming bamboos, native to many parts of the world including Asia, China, the Himalayas, and Northern Australia, some of them reaching heights of around 11 meters. Foliage is mainly green, but the stems can vary in colour from yellow to green to red
Name Status: Correct

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in moist but well-drained, humus-rich soil in sun or part shade in a sheltered position. Not suited to average size garden use. Often planted as an industrial or commercial crop, to stabilise soil erosion or border lands, but may have the potential to become a nuisance and can be difficult to control. See bamboo control and bamboo cultivation for further advice

Propagation

Divide clumps in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Sub-tropical

Pruning

No pruning required. Stems can be thinned where required

Pests

May be susceptible to damage from slugs on young growth

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely)