This section lists the tropical bamboo species we have in production. They
are all tropical, or sub-tropical, clumping bamboos and are generally not
cold-hardy like the temperate, running bamboos. Some, the sub-tropicals, can
tolerate freezing temperatures for short periods. Check the minimum
temperatures listed on each species description as a guideline for which
species can grow unprotected in your area.
ABS characterizes this plant as viney but it can manage without support. It is growing nicely, fairly delicate and bushy with droopy culm tips, in South Florida. Spidery branches that attach to surrounding plants (if any are within reach). This is a tight mountain clumper from Yunnan, China. Professor Xue Jiru introduced it to the U.S.A.
It matures to 30' tall in China but probably no more than 15' in S.Florida. It does seem to have some cold hardiness - mid 20s F with no problems. Minimum USDA zone: 8b. Click to find your zone.
Native to New Guinea, the Moluccas, and Sangihe Island. Often found on limestone. Thin-walled, tight clumping, reed-like shrub with large leaves/no low branching. Persistant culm sheaths create an ornamental effect. Grows 25' tall with 1" diameter culms. Minimum temp 30 degrees F. Minimum USDA zone: 9b. Click to find your zone.
From India. Strong, used for construction, crafts, edible shoots. When mature, the primary branch at each node is almost perpandicular to the culm - in India, this has been utilized to quickly create a single pole ladder.
50' tall with 4" diameter culms. Min temp 24 degrees F. Min USDA zone: 9b. Click to find your zone.
Fast growing, thick-walled, soft. Lower branches are long, wiry and armed with thorns. Edible shoots. Used for paper in India. Very small leaves. There are many seedling varieties, or cultivars, of this species. The seeds of the cultivar listed here were germinated at Fairchild Tropical Garden, Miami. May grow up to 50' tall with 3" diameter culms in Florida. Min temp. 30 degrees F. Min USDA zone: 9b. Click to find your zone.
Somewhat similar to the standard Beechey but without the Bamboo Mosaic Potex Virus. Culms generally arch and are covered with white powder and when young. We are only propagating Pubescens and do not grow the standard B.beechey. Will grow to 45' tall with 3" diameter culms in Florida. Reported to be cold-hardy to 15 degrees F. Min USDA zone: 8b. Click to find your zone.
In India and Indonesia, a tall,thorny bamboo. It is used for construction, baskets, and edible shoots.
In South Florida, it seems to grow more bushy than tall.
Will grow to about 30' tall with 1" diameter culms. Min. temp. 28 deg F. Min USDA zone: 9b. Click to find your zone.
A small-growing bamboo with a delicate appearance. Fine leaves that droop to the ground when young. Can be used as a privacy screen in applications where a shorter bamboo is required.
Will grow to 20' tall with 1" diameter culms. Min. temp. 27 deg F. Min USDA zone: 9b. Click to find your zone.
Dense clumper with medium/large leaves. More of a collector's bamboo than for general landscape use. It is similar in appearance to Bambusa tulda and is used in much the same ways. From Burma.
Can grow to 40'tall with 2.5" diameter culms in Florida. Minimum temp 32 Deg F. Min USDA zone: 9b. Click to find your zone.
A smaller version of the amazing Bambusa chungii bamboo.
Same pale blue appearance but grows to about 3/4 the maximum size of the standard chungii. 25' tall with 1 ½" culms. Perfect for smaller gardens.
Min. temp 21°F. Min USDA zone: 8b/9a. Click to find your zone.
A stunning, mystical bamboo. Thin-walled culms are covered with persistent, dense white bloom, giving them a pale blue appearance. Slightly open clumper that will grow to at least 30' tall with 2" dia. culms. This rare Chinese import cleared U.S.D.A. quarantine in the 1990's. Also called Emperor's Blue Bamboo & White Bamboo.
Min. temp 21°F. Min USDA zone: 8b/9a. Click to find your zone.
