Red bamboo plants are a stunning group of plants, though not so common as the black bamboo plants.
Most of the red bamboo plants are from the clumping variety.
Check out these articles for the 5 best read bamboo plants that grow well in the UK, US, Canada, Australia and other parts of the temperate regions where there are four seasons.
Grow red bamboo plants in the garden
Bamboos are evergreen and long-lasting, best grown in sites where they’ll provide a permanent cover such as in the garden as ornamental plants, or along the boundary as hedges and privacy screens.
The red bamboos are a standout.
So, grow them somewhere obvious where you will admire them all year round.
It is a good idea to use root barriers if you are growing the running red bamboo plants because this will stop them from spreading.
Alternatively, grow them in pots. See below why growing bamboo plants in pots is a great idea.
Grow red bamboo plants pot?
The red bamboos are fantastic pot plants. Though these plants do not flower regularly, the red canes are naturally beautiful.
Movable
Most bamboos in pots are not easy to move because they are large and heavy plants.
The red bamboo plants will require additional help or tool to move them around, like this Hand Truck from B&Q.
However, the great thing about growing bamboo in pots is that you CAN actually move and adjust the pots to your heart’s desire with a bit of help.
Maintainable
Bamboos are undemanding plants.
You can prune the culms and leave the greenery you want on the potted bamboos, and they’ll keep producing new shoots year on year.
Umbrella bamboo plants have tall stems and ‘dense foliage'.
They are clumping bamboo plants.
The thick arching foliage of these bamboos forms a formidable over-hanging shape like an umbrella, thus the name Umbrella Bamboo.
Their new shoots grow very fast before putting out branches.
These bamboo plants tend to reach a height of about 4 to 6 metres, ideal for heavy top-hedge screening.
For example, these bamboos can be used to provide an evergreen cover (or screen) for boundaries, walls and low buildings.
Here are 5 tall bamboo plants with an average height of 6 metres and produce the evergreen ‘umbrella’ effect.
Umbrella clumping bamboo privacy plants 6 metres
Most umbrella-clumping bamboo plants grow to 6 metres and are much denser than running bamboo.
They thrive in the UK climate.
The bamboo plants listed above are predominantly clump-forming with either thicker culms or produce masses of culms in Spring.
As the name suggests, the clumping bamboo canes (culms) tend to grow into a tight cluster around the parent plant, forming a formidable tight screen.
The foliages of matured umbrella bamboo arch into an umbrella shape.
Unlike the upright bamboos, this special group of bamboos is the best choice for privacy.
Clumping umbrella bamboo plants form thick covers
If you are planting bamboo to provide privacy from a short wall or the neighbour's shed, the clump-forming bamboos are the best options.
However, you may have to buy more than one plant to provide a good cover.
As a rule of thumb, plant the clump-forming bamboo no more than 1.5 metres to give you are dense hedging screen.
Here are the 5 umbrella bamboo plants that form clusters of ‘dense-culms'.
They are ideal for growing in the garden or in pots and containers.
One top tip is to grow these bamboo plants in pots for balcony or patio privacy.
Choose the bamboo according to the height specification - click here to find out more.
Quick links to bamboo plants for privacy and hedging
What kind of bamboo is best for privacy?
Depending on what you like, here are some suggestions of living bamboo plants for creating an ideal privacy space.
Chinese dwarf bamboo plants are great undercover plants.
Most of them prefer shade to part-shaded sites.
They are ideal small bamboos for gardens and pots because they do not take up much space, and are less demanding and low-maintenance plants.
The Chinese Dwarf Bamboo Plants come in different sizes, shapes and colours. They make up less than 10 per cent of the bamboos that we feature on gardenbambooplants.com.
So, what are the Chinese bamboo plants?
This article is a fine collection of small bamboos that thrive in the UK.
5 Dwarf Bamboo Plants to Grow Undercovers
Here are 5 small bamboos to grow as undercover plants. These plants are chosen based on their shade tolerance.
Do not be fooled by the name, this clumping bamboo can grow to 5 metres in height.
Compared to the other Dwarf Bamboos the Weaver’s Bamboo is tall.
3. Bimbo Dwarf Bamboo
Stunning clump-forming ornamental Dwarf Bamboo.
Bimbo has thin green compacted leaves and short culms that form an ‘umbrella’ effect low on the ground. Ideal plant for short hedges, privacy screens, small gardens and confined spaces.
A fantastic evergreen pot or container plant.
4. Fargesia nitida Jiuzhaigou Bamboo
The stems/culms of this spectacular clump-forming dwarf bamboo emerge green, turn deep red and mature to yellowish-orange.
In fact, the change in colours is a response to the amount of light the stems receive.
5. Winter Joy
The Fargesia murielae ‘Winter Joy’ is a hybrid bamboo, cross between ‘Simba’ and ‘Dwarf Fountain’ Umbrella Bamboos.
It has a distinct dark green culm (stem) with red overlays.
Winter joy is hardy, evergreen and non-invasive.
Best for growing in the garden, or in pots and containers.
Generally, the dwarf bamboo plants are ideal ground covers.
They will thrive in part shade to shaded sites. Most of these plants are hardy and grow in cooler climates.
There are different types of bamboo plants. The Chinese dwarf bamboo plants are best for shade, undergrowths and ground covers.
Are Chinese Dwarf Bamboo Plants invasive?
The great thing about these bamboos is that they are small and undemanding. You can find them as both running and clumping bamboos.
The running varieties will spread. Always use root barriers to stop them from invading other spaces. Alternatively, grow them in pot planters.
Clumping varieties are non-invasive. You do not have to worry about spreading.
However, the clumping bamboo bases will expand over time. If this happens, it will require pruning and thinning.
How to Grow Dwarf Bamboo Plants
The three ways to grow bamboo plants are seed propagation, culm cuttings and rhizome separation.
A lesser-known method is called air-layering, which is similar to budding the bamboo branches until they establish roots.
The small bamboo plants grow well by rhizome separation which is more effective than the other methods.
This article (Split Potted Bamboo Plants) explains how to separate the bamboo plants if you buy them in pots. It gives you a good idea about what to do and how to preserve the rhizomes before planting.
In addition, you will need these Hand Tools, take a look.
Where to buy Dwarf 'Clumping' Bamboo Plants?
Check out the UK retailers we listed here where you can get the Chinese Dwarf Bamboo plants.
They come in different size pots.
The bigger pots can give you up to 4 plants if you separate them properly.
Caring for Small Bamboo Plants
The Chinese Dwarf Bamboo Plants will definitely require attention, especially, if they are planted from rhizomes separation.
The plant is under stress after cutting, so provide the care it needs to grow during the early stage. Add water and mulch where or when necessary.
Monitor its growth for the first couple of months or until new shoots and leaves emerge. The emerging shoots are a sign that the roots hairs and rhizomes are healthy under the soil.
You should be happy when this happens.
When is the best time to plant bamboo?
Bamboos are tough and hardy. The small bamboos can withstand temperatures up to minus 25 degrees Celsius.
In the UK, they do not have natural pests apart from slugs, but we observed signs of new bamboo shoots being eaten by rats and or squirrels - see the video.
Slugs do like the new bamboo leaves and shoots, so protect your new plants by adding slug pallets.
The best time to grow bamboo plants is at the beginning of Spring when new growths are prominent.
Chinese dwarf bamboo plants are great outdoor
The Chinese dwarf bamboo plants are great outdoor and indoor plants.
There are many kinds of bamboo plants. Some prefer shade whereas others part-shade and sun. To answer the question Does Bamboo Grow in Shade?
We list 6 bamboos that can grow in shade: 3 are running bamboos whereas the other 3 are clumping.
Follow the links to find out more about the growth requirements and special features of each bamboo in our database.
Six bamboos to grow in shaded sites
There are many bamboos that also prefer shaded sites or undercovers. They range in size and colour.
Let’s take a look at the 6 bamboos you can grow in the shaded sites.
1) Phyllostachys Nuda Bamboo Features
2) Fishpole Bamboo Phyllostachys aurea
3) Phyllostachys Humilis Scottish Bamboo Plants
4) Fargesia papyrifera Blue Dragon
5) Fargesia nitida Pillar fountain bamboo
6) Fargesia murielae Simba Umbrella Bamboo
Bamboo plants for shade and part-shade
The 6 bamboos will tolerate densely shaded sites. For example, under trees and wall covers or planted as pot plants for indoor areas.
At gardenbambooplants.com, we list nearly 100 bamboos that grow well in the UK.
This list is growing as we add more bamboo plants that thrive in the UK to it.
Many home and garden retailers in the UK sell these 6 bamboo plants.
We recommend checking the renowned UK retailers listed herefor your bamboo plants and supplies.
Can you grow bamboo plants in shade - here are 6 bamboo plants that you can grow in shade.
What running bamboos grow in shade?
The running bamboos are an invasive variety because they have running rhizomes that spread along the ground. It is important to use a root barrier before growing them.
Warning: The running bamboo plants are invasive.
Alternatively, grow them in pots to stop the bamboo from spreading in the garden
Always use a bamboo barrier or large heavy-duty pots to grow them.
Can bamboo grow in shade?
Bamboo can grow in shade. The bamboos listed above are some that you can grow in shaded areas or under covers.
One of the peculiar things about bamboo plants is that there are many varieties. Some are running, and others are clumping.
From the 6 bamboo plants that you can grow in shade, we put them into running and clumping to make it easy to find what you want.
What clumping bamboos grow in shade?
The clumping bamboos have rhizomes that tend to form clump clusters. That means that they do not spread, instead, the clumpers will expand around the base in time.
There is no need to worry about spreading, but you may have to prune or thin out the culms to keep them in shape.
Less hardy in winter due to thin leaves and culms.
What to do to address the ‘negatives’?
As mentioned, bamboos are tolerant plants, they can grow in shaded areas.
Apart from the need for sunlight, other factors can exacerbate the problems of growing bamboo in the shade.
For your plants to do well in shade, ensure that the soil is nutrient-rich and well aerated. Prune and thin the old culms. Add mulch to conserve moisture and improve soil aeration.
Where necessary, add the NPK fertilisers or any slow-release fertilisers rich in nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus.
The bamboos’ spread, height and other growth requirements are based on garden conditions, therefore, they will NOT grow to the specifications when in pots.
As a rule of thumb, estimate a growth specification of 50%-75%. For example, a bamboo that grows to a height of 2 metres in the garden condition will grow to a height of 1.5 metres in the pot.
Ideally, use large heavy-duty pots. Remember that the size of the pots will determine how often to re-pot the bamboo.
The larger the better.
Smaller pots will require re-potting in less than two years given how fast bamboos grow.
Bamboos are tough plants but are responsive to prolonged heat and waterlogged areas. Avoid using metal and ceramic pots.
These materials store heat which can affect the underground parts due to heat exposure during the warm summer months.
Your bamboo should be okay if you use a pot that does not store heat.
Heavy-duty plastic pots, treated wood planters, or resin containers and planters will do the job.
Another important factor is drainage.
Use well-drained pots to grow bamboo plants. Avoid any pot that has poor drainage.
The pots should be well-drained so that not too much water is lost in warmer months, and is not waterlogged when it rains.
What are the advantages of growing bamboo in pots?
Bamboo in pots offers tranquillity and creates a calming atmosphere both indoors and outdoors.
You can grow both the running and clumping bamboos in pots, move them around and create an ideal home and garden space.
The clumping bamboos are fantastic for large pots, while they prevent running bamboo rhizomes from spreading.
They also offer flexibility for moving them around. For example, they can be given as presents or moved indoors to decorate patios, balconies and porches.
What are the disadvantages of growing bamboo in pots?
The main worry about growing bamboo is the invasiveness.
More so, it requires ongoing care and maintenance such as pruning, thinning and re-potting.
Pots are great barriers when it comes to stopping bamboo from invading other spaces.
Growing bamboos in pots
The advantages of growing bamboo in pots far outweigh the disadvantages.
The pots are great barriers when growing bamboo plants. So, use large heavy-duty plastic pots.
They are best for growing bamboo plants.
There is no limit to what bamboo you can grow in pots.
You can grow both varieties and enjoy the evergreen plants all year round.
Conclusion (Can you grow bamboo in pots?)
Both running and clumping bamboos are amazing pot plants. Hope the related articles give you an idea about what bamboo you can grow in pots.
They are the fastest-growing plants. Kew Royal Botanic Gardens has one of the largest collections of garden bamboo in the UK.
At Kew’s Tropical Palm House, you’ll see the giant bamboo.
Gigantochloa verticillate Giant Bamboo.
Bambusa ventricosa Buddha's Belly Bamboo.
Bambusa vulgaris – the Common Bamboo.
The three Giant Bamboos are a must-see. Kew Bamboo Garden also has 130 different bamboo growing naturally.
Gigantochloa verticillate Giant Bamboo
Here is what Kew said about the giant bamboo:
The giant bamboo is the largest of all the bamboos. It grows 25-30 metres in the wild, as tall as a tree.
This bamboo is native to Southeast Asia and the Pacific, particularly China and Papua New Guinea.
In the greenhouse at Kew Gardens, this bamboo reached the top of the ceiling and had to be cut.
Bambusa ventricosa Buddha's Belly Bamboo
Another large bamboo in Kew’s Tropical Glass House is the popular Buddha's Belly Bamboo.
Its peculiar shiny green culms are a standout – you will hardly miss it.
The swollen or bulging internodes of its culms resemble Buddha’s fat belly which is why it earns the name Buddha's Belly Bamboo.
The culms are deep dark green smooth and glossy with multiple branches growing at each node.
Bambusa ventricosa (Buddha's Belly Bamboo) is probably the most peculiar-shaped bamboo that also grows in the UK. It has a clumping nature, great as a pot plant or garden plant.
This is by far one of the largest collections of bamboo you will see near London, UK.
The Bamboo Garden is magnificent, quiet calm and soothing. You can wander through the beautiful walkways and the arching bamboo. Or relax and listen to the rustle of bamboo leaves against the wind.
Check out our video and image collectionof the bamboo at Kew’s Tropical Glass House and Japanese Bamboo Garden.
Uses of Giant Bamboo plants
The giant bamboos are so versatile, they earn the name ‘friends of the people’.
The bamboo sticks are used in buildings, paper making, utensils and tools, musical instruments and even for food.
They also protect watershed areas from flooding. In mountainsides, they are important barriers to preventing soil erosion.
However, the giant bamboo natural habitats have now been lost to urbanisation and agricultural land use. Yet, it is often planted in stands as a source of building materials.
Clumping bamboos do not have running rhizomes, instead, the roots are packed around the base forming a clumped base, hence the name clump-forming bamboo.
When separating the clumps, take care to preserve the parent plant.
Bamboo plants can grow from stem cuttings, but it is not as effective as growing bamboo from base separation and rhizome cuttings. It will also take a long time to germinate.
Follow the steps below for successful propagation by stem cuttings.
Step 1: Cut some cuttings from a three or four-year-old bamboo plant at 45 degrees angle.
Each cutting must have at least two nodes and one internode.
Cover the ends of the bamboo cuttings with wax to save them from rotting or drying.
Use rooting hormone
Step 2: Dip the bamboo cuttings in rooting hormone and ensure that the fresh cuts are covered with the hormone before shaking the excess off.
Use good soil!
Step 3: Fill large a pot or container with potting mix or loam soil (mixture of equal parts sand, silt and clay). Make several holes in the soil and plant the culm cuttings.
Depending on the number of cuttings, you may need more than one pot.
Ideally, an 20cm garden pot should hold not more than 6 new culm cuttings.
Water & humidity promote growth
Step 4: Cover the cuttings with a clear plastic bag to keep the soil moist.
Put the pot of newly planted culm cuttings in a warm area, out of direct sunlight.
Water the cuttings to keep the soil moist as water and humidity promote new growth.
Continue early-stage care
Step 5: When you see new shoots, it means the cuttings are putting out roots and rhizomes in the soil.
Continue to water the cuttings until they are ready to move into new pots or planted straight in the garden.
A garden bamboo shoot can grow up to 10cm on a spring day, and reach its full height in just 4 weeks. By summer, it will put out branches and leaves. This bamboo's growth is complete, but it will remain evergreen for 30 - 60 years.
According to the Guinness World Records, timber bamboo grows up to 91 centimetres (35 inches) per day.
Close to home, at the Kew Garden Palm House, the Giant Timber Bamboo [pictured] grows to 24m in 16 days, as measured.
That's a whopping 1.5m per day!
This bamboo grows 1.5m/day
When does bamboo grow the fastest?
The new bamboo shoots come out in spring and grow the fastest during the first 3 - 4 weeks.
In summer, they'll start to branch out and produce leaves.
Also, spring is the ideal time to grow new bamboo plants because they will be active during this time.
When should I grow new bamboo plants?
Understanding how fast bamboo grows and when they grow the fastest is important to growing it.
As the roots establish themselves, (and they do that very quickly over Summer), your bamboo cuttings will be ready for planting the following Spring.
Also, spring is the best time to grow any potted bamboo. As mentioned, grow them early so that they have the chance to germinate over the spring and summer months.
Having said that, bamboo is a resilient plant. When you plant it does not really matter. It will remain in the soil until the condition are right for it to sprout.
Check your bamboo plants for growth
Late Spring and early Summers are the best times for checking your bamboo plants. This is also a good time to grow bamboo because the new shoots and rhizomes tips will have been sprouting.
During the rest of the year, the matured bamboo plants, especially the culms and rhizomes, in your garden will remain green and provide covers even through the Winter months.
They are pretty tolerant of cold and dry soils.
Bamboos are amazing plants, they grow well all year round.
Their evergreen foliage and tall hardy stems make them ideal plants for privacy screens and ornamental garden centrepieces.
If you are going to grow a bamboo plant, either in pots or in the garden, it is important to know that they grow very quickly.
The new shoots and rhizomes (roots) can take over the space very quickly if left unchecked.
We hope this article answers your questions about how to grow our favourite bamboo plant.
If you have any questions, please leave a comment and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Follow us on Twitter and YouTube for the latest updates.