Clumping Bamboo for Atlanta: Recommended Species and Cold Hardiness

A reader asked: "Is there a recommended clumping bamboo for Atlanta? Need one growing 16+ feet."

Though tall like a tree, bamboo is giant grass. Spreads by underground stems (rhizomes). Plants expand rapidly if rhizomes grow several feet horizontally before sprouting aboveground stem (culm). Some species have short rhizomes, forming clumps rather than running.

Clumping bamboos typically tropical. Umbrella bamboo (Fargesia nitida) very cold tolerant but not heat/sun tolerant.

Years ago, Extension agent David Linville gathered info from Georgia bamboo experts in "Growing Bamboo in Georgia" with excellent pictures/descriptions.

Recommended clumping bamboo species below. American Bamboo Society lists suppliers.

Each node of B. multiplex bears many branches to culm base, dense hedge. Hardiest Bambusa. 'Alphonse Karr': bright yellow culms with irregular dark green stripes. 'Fernleaf': small, 10-20 closely spaced two-ranked leaves. 'Fernleaf Stripestem': similar but culms reddish/yellow striped green. 'Golden Goddess': dwarf, larger leaves, yellowish culms. 'Goldstripe': mature green culms with gold stripe bleeding into green. 'Midori Green': similar to 'Alphonse Karr' but light green with dark green stripes. 'Riviereorum': solid culms, tiny leaves, delicate. 'Silverstripe': many leaves with white stripes, some culms striped white. 'Tiny Fern': dwarf, leaves <1". 'Tiny Fern Striped': same with striped culms. 'Willowy': culms droop/arch strongly, small narrow leaves. B. dolichomerithalla 'Green stripe': yellow-green culms striped dark green. 'Silverstripe': culms striped silver. Fargesia nitida: upright culms, thick gray deciduous wax when young, may become nearly black. F. murieliae: similar but green culms.