Pleioblastus spp.

dwarf bamboo

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

HardinessZones 6–9

Overview

Pleioblastus spp. is a genus of about twenty running bamboos in the grass family Poaceae, native to China and Japan and long cultivated elsewhere. Species range from low groundcover bamboos under 12 inches (30 cm) to upright canes reaching 12-15 feet (3.7-4.6 m), spreading by vigorous underground rhizomes that send up new canes well beyond the original clump. The slender, hollow, jointed canes carry narrow, lance-shaped evergreen leaves, plain green in some species and striped with cream or yellow in selections such as Pleioblastus variegatus and P. viridistriatus. Like most bamboos, the genus flowers only at long, irregular intervals of many years and is grown for its foliage rather than bloom. Pleioblastus spp. grows in a wide range of soils in sun to part shade and tolerates hard cutting, which is used to renew the dwarf kinds. Its running rhizomes spread aggressively and can invade lawns and beds, so it is usually confined by a root barrier or container, and this spreading habit is its main drawback in gardens.

Native Range

Pleioblastus spp. is native to China and Japan, where it grows in forests, thickets, and disturbed ground. It has been widely planted in temperate gardens around the world.

Suggested Uses

Used as groundcover, low screening, and erosion cover on banks, and in containers where its spread can be contained. Taller species form light screens, while dwarf forms edge paths and fill shaded beds.

How to Identify

Recognized as a running bamboo with slender, hollow, jointed canes and narrow evergreen leaves, the dwarf species forming low leafy thickets and the taller ones thin upright canes. Many garden forms have leaves striped lengthwise with cream or yellow. The running habit, with new canes appearing at a distance from the parent, separates Pleioblastus spp. from clump-forming bamboos such as Fargesia spp..

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 15'

Width/Spread2' - 10'

Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Flowering is rare and irregular, occurring only at intervals of many years to decades, when bamboos may bloom heavily and then decline. Plants are grown for foliage rather than flowers. In most gardens Pleioblastus spp. never flowers within the life of the planting.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

Green, often striped cream or yellow

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 3-9 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam clay sand

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-3 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grow Pleioblastus spp. in full sun to part shade on most moist, reasonably fertile soils, with steady moisture giving the densest foliage. It tolerates a wide pH range and recovers quickly from cutting, and the dwarf species are mown or sheared to the ground in late winter to produce fresh, brightly colored leaves. The running rhizomes spread widely, so plants are contained by a buried root barrier, a sunken container, or planting in a pot. Regular checking and cutting of stray rhizomes keeps colonies in bounds. Most species are cold-hardy into the single-digit Fahrenheit range, with foliage browning in hard winters and renewing in spring. Feeding in spring supports leafy growth.

Pruning

Cut dwarf species to ground level in late winter to renew dense, colorful foliage. Thin old or weak canes of taller species at the base each year. Sever and remove stray rhizomes through the season to limit spread.

Container Growing

✓ Suitable for container growing

Minimum container size: 7 gallons

✓ Toxicity

Non-toxic

Grasses & Bamboos