Dwarf Bamboo

[LilikoiLee]

Here are pictures of our three dwarf bamboo.

I bought these about 5 years ago (about a year before palms and about five years before we started our bamboo garden. During those 5 years they had become so overgrown with weeds they were no longer visible.

Pleioblastus fortunei

Sasaella masamuneana albostriata

I can't remember where we bought them and, at the time, I didn't know they were dwarfs or how rare they were. A couple of weeks ago we were looking online for the names of the bamboo we posted. As we were drooling over the online pictures of dwarf bamboo I suddenly remembered that I had purchased two of them. The question was if they were still alive and, if so, where were they. I thought they must have died but kept pulling weeds in an effort to find them. It's taken me all that time and a lot of weed pulling to locate them. The dwarfs were so overgrown by weeds we couldn't see them. A strong statement about how tenacious bamboo are.

At some point I also bought another, even tinier, bamboo. It was no more than 1" tall. It was labeled as bamboo but without the genus or species. I planted it in a crack in a boulder. It never spread so about six months ago I decided to transplant it to our bamboo garden, where despite the TLC I gave it, it died.

We purchased this Sasa veitchi within the last couple of years.

I don't remember where I bought all of our dwarf bamboo and have never seen them at any of the many nurseries we frequent so I am sorry that I can't tell you where they came from. However, since we found pictures of our dwarf bamboo online, they are probably there.

If any of you are growing dwarf wed love to see them. Also if you know who is selling them please let us know. We've run out of room for large bamboo, but will never run out of room for dwarfs.

Lee

[Kim]

Those are lovely, and very tempting. So far I have avoided bamboo entirely. Being gone for long periods, I might come back and find the entire acre engulfed in bamboo. But these little dwarf types appear to be controllable. Yes? No?

[Walter John]

Those little Sasaella look like runners to me. Even though they are small, I wouldn't attempt them here, but still, very lovely. There's nothing like a clump of bamboo or two though Kim, try one clump of medium size first, I'd say the regular Bambusa lako (Timor Black) would look great in your garden.

[Neil C]

I also have a soft spot for dwarf bamboo especially variegated varieties. Unfortunately the only one I've found so far is Pleioblastus fortunei. This one is definately a runner so it's confined to a pot but it's still a winner.

Regards Neil

[Mandrew968]

Are there any tropical/clumping varieties of dwarf bamboo? Those are interesting.

[LilikoiLee]

Are there any tropical/clumping varieties of dwarf bamboo? Those are interesting.

Mike found several other dwarfs online when he was looking for the names of our large bamboo. I looked at some of those pictures; many of them are stunning.

I think Kim is correct that both of the ones in the picture are runners. But from what I've read all runners can be contained by putting some kind of underground shield around them to restrict their grow. I think this would be easy to do since the dwarf don't develop deep roots.

We only have a small amount of the variegated white (which was more densely covered with weeds, but if you would like to try the yellow one I'd dig some up and send it you. Please first make sure that it is not illegal to send it to Florida first. I am coming to Miami but don't want to sneak it into my suitcase if it is illegal.

Lee

[LilikoiLee]

I also have a soft spot for dwarf bamboo especially variegated varieties. Unfortunately the only one I've found so far is Pleioblastus fortunei. This one is definitely a runner so it's confined to a pot but it's still a winner.

Regards Neil

Aloha Neil,

Putting them in a pot is a GREAT idea. Yours look wonderful against the concrete (?) pavers. I put all of our dwarf (2 to 3') palms in pots to keep them save and so they don't get 'lost' among all of the other palms in our garden. Some bamboo would be a wonderful contrast to the palms.

Lee

[LilikoiLee]

Those are lovely, and very tempting. So far I have avoided bamboo entirely. Being gone for long periods, I might come back and find the entire acre engulfed in bamboo. But these little dwarf types appear to be controllable. Yes? No?

Aloha Kim,

I think you will find my responses to Mandrew and Neil interesting, if not helpful. I think the potted idea might work well for you. You wouldn't have to worry about coming back to a weeding nightmare. Also Mike has suggested that perhaps ours haven't spread very much because it's much drier here than in Hilo. If true, you could move the pots under an eve or put them in your Tea house while you're on the mainland and have someone water them only occasionally.

Lee

[JungleGina]

I love Malay dwarf variegated (B. glaucophylla). It stays compact and mine has been in the ground for about 7 years and is only 10' tall. You wouldn't have to look for it with a microscope. This one's a clumper so it's quite well-behaved.

MAndrew968: You can find Malay dwarf at Tropical Bamboo in Loxahatchee. If you haven't been there yet, you need to go!!

[LilikoiLee]

I love Malay dwarf variegated (B. glaucophylla). It stays compact and mine has been in the ground for about 7 years and is only 10' tall. You wouldn't have to look for it with a microscope. This one's a clumper so it's quite well-behaved.

MAndrew968: You can find Malay dwarf at Tropical Bamboo in Loxahatchee. If you haven't been there yet, you need to go!!

That bamboo sounds like it would well in our garden. I hope we can find one in Hawaii. Most out-of-state plants cannot be shipped in.

Gina, is your adorable cat checking for mealybugs? I think it's fallen asleep on the job.

Lee

[Palmdude]

Here's a nice variegated dwarf for you

http://www.bamboogarden.com/Sasa%20hayatae.htm

[JungleGina]

Lee, it is being cultivated on the Big Island and Maui. If you can't find anyone selling, try the bamboo society there.