What type of bamboo is this?

vicks2022 · August 2022

Hi all,

Can anyone see from root removed and attached picture if this is running/clumping or even the potential name. Seems to be spurting up in a few places but wondered if it was clumping that had just been left for ages and started to spurt elsewhere or if it’s running.

GardenerSuze · August 2022

@vicks2022 That looks like running bamboo to me. Not sure you will be able to ID it.

Desi_in_London · August 2022

If it is spurting up in a few places far away from the "mother" .. then it is , by definition, running. Clumping will spread , but will spread outwards from the main clump ( ie won't turn up the other side of your garden out of "nowhere" - a true clumper like fargesia doesn't magically turn into a "runner", although won't sit still at 50cm diameter or whatever base clump diameter in the ground.. Having said that , if your 2nd pic is one "runner" -- that looks very different from the ones I have seen ( which were phyllostachys) - which were are much straighter. The difference is in the overall form and in the rhizomes underground ( which can be either leptomorph or running in habit, or pachymorph and clumping), not the roots as such ( as far as I know).

This site ( no connection) has a useful picture which may help you

Bamboo anatomy: 9 Parts of the bamboo plant - Bambu Batu

punkdoc · August 2022

Those roots are clearly running.

KT53 · August 2022

Definitely one of the running bamboos from both the appearance and description of what it is doing. Not enough top growth to be sure beyond that. Probably Phyllostachys aurea based purely on the basis that it's the most commonly sold in garden centres.

vicks2022 · August 2022

KT53 said:

Definitely one of the running bamboos from both the appearance and description of what it is doing. Not enough top growth to be sure beyond that. Probably Phyllostachys aurea based purely on the basis that it's the most commonly sold in garden centres.

Thank you. I’d say the say the height stayed pretty consistent at around 10-12ft approx. Thank you, does look similar to Phyllostachys aurea, just looked.

Unfortunately it was here when I moved between mine and my neighbours house and was never picked up on by surveys etc.
it’s wreaking havoc. Hoping it’s stayed relatively contained as roots spread stopped 1-2 pavement slabs my side but is dispersing randomly the other side too. Roots has been removed and have to keep checking for any buds/regrowth.

vicks2022 · August 2022

Desi_in_London said:

If it is spurting up in a few places far away from the "mother" .. then it is , by definition, running. Clumping will spread , but will spread outwards from the main clump ( ie won't turn up the other side of your garden out of "nowhere" - a true clumper like fargesia doesn't magically turn into a "runner", although won't sit still at 50cm diameter or whatever base clump diameter in the ground.. Having said that , if your 2nd pic is one "runner" -- that looks very different from the ones I have seen ( which were phyllostachys) - which were are much straighter. The difference is in the overall form and in the rhizomes underground ( which can be either leptomorph or running in habit, or pachymorph and clumping), not the roots as such ( as far as I know).

This site ( no connection) has a useful picture which may help you

Bamboo anatomy: 9 Parts of the bamboo plant - Bambu Batu

Thank you for the above! Will have a look
i agree the runners are strange. I know very little about plants, and even less about bamboo! Never knew it could be this invasive till I moved home. I was surprised it stopped at that paving slab, I think it couldn’t lift the ones around it as they were solidly fixed to the patio so started re-directing it’s path

Woodgreen · August 2022

Quote "It's wreaking havoc"

@vicks2022 you have my sympathy. Not that I have had any experience of trying to control bamboo in a garden, but due to having read so many posts on the forum concerning damage, hard work and time consumed trying to deal with it.

There is a small patch of it beyond my gate, growing by a very natural stream, wholly out of place. We tried to dig it all out once and thought we had succeeded but it's back again.

I can't help thinking that it's time the nursery trade stopped selling these very aggressive varieties.

I don't recall a post inquiring after the best variety to invade a garden, and next doors', uplift the patio and puncture the pond liner, but plenty of posts asking for help when it does.
Good luck with trying to deal with it.

Plantminded · August 2022

Are there any other visible canes which you can photograph in situ @vicks2022? The colour, diameter, height and leaf arrangement on the canes may help with identification.

bertrand-mabel · August 2022

Looks like one of the Sasa bamboos, maybe palmata. It is running.

vicks2022 · August 2022

Woodgreen said:

Quote "It's wreaking havoc"

@vicks2022 you have my sympathy. Not that I have had any experience of trying to control bamboo in a garden, but due to having read so many posts on the forum concerning damage, hard work and time consumed trying to deal with it.

There is a small patch of it beyond my gate, growing by a very natural stream, wholly out of place. We tried to dig it all out once and thought we had succeeded but it's back again.

I can't help thinking that it's time the nursery trade stopped selling these very aggressive varieties.

I don't recall a post inquiring after the best variety to invade a garden, and next doors', uplift the patio and puncture the pond liner, but plenty of posts asking for help when it does.
Good luck with trying to deal with it.

Thank you! It’s hellish stuff

So much was ripped out roots; massive clumbs, runners. Then they start growing again from buds I assume!

What type of bamboo is this?

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