Bamboo Plants

Bamboo Plants

There are few things better to work with in city planning, architecture, and landscaping than clumping bamboo plants. These beautiful, often regal plants can be – when you choose the right variety – easy to work with and extremely functional.

About Us

Palmco has been proudly growing the highest quality selection of field grown Florida Fancy (FF) palms for 30 years and added exquisite varieties of clumping bamboo to our product line in 2011. We offer 15 varieties of tropical and subtropical clumping bamboo and are one of the largest palm and bamboo plantations in North America with over 600 acres in production.

What Is Clumping Bamboo?

The bamboo most of us are used to seeing is called “running” bamboo. Running bamboo is quite different than the bamboo we grow at Palmco, though it is similar in appearance.

So, what is the difference? In botanical terms, the difference is in the way that they spread and the mechanism by which they grow. Both types of bamboo are rhizomatic, meaning that they spread by way of a network of rhizomes instead of roots. In other words, there is no single point of central division from which the growing occurs (as is the case, for instance, with a tree’s root system).

Running bamboo rhizomes grow long. They send out underground runners that may spread as far as 20 feet or more from the parent plant
(and very quickly). For this reason, this type of bamboo is famously hard to control and can be very invasive.

In the case of clumping bamboo, however, the rhizomes are shorter and will typically form distinct circular clumps. They are not genetically capable of expanding more than a few inches per year, so they will not spread as quickly. Clumping bamboo is more easily controlled and less invasive.

At Palmco, we specialize in non-invasive clumping bamboos, such as the stunning Asian Lemon, that are well-suited to the hot Florida climate yet cold hardy to about +20° F.

Asian Lemon

Asian Lemon bamboo. or Bambusa eutuldoides viridi-vittata.
is great for both aesthetic applications and privacy screening. It is a tight clumping bamboo that reaches heights of up to 25 feet, which makes it great for screening. It also features deep, impressive colors that attract the eye immediately, making it a great choice as a centerpiece.

Asian lemon can be used to screen an area with respect to privacy, sound, light, or wind. It can be planted in dense rows that allow it to form a thick barrier between areas.

When using this bamboo as a focal point, trim the lower branches to the desired height to show off the thick-walled culms (canes). The new culms or shoots have pink and peach tones with green stripes. When established, the culms are lemon yellow with green stripes and dark green leaves.

The Asian Lemon bamboo would be a great addition to any home or garden.

If you are interested in using bamboo plants in your next landscaping project, then feel free to contact Palmco from Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm, at (239) 283-1329.