3 named cultivars

grass

Hedge Bamboo

The Story

Plant Bio

Bambusa multiplex, hedge bamboo, is a clump-forming evergreen bamboo from southern China and Southeast Asia, sending up dense arching canes ten to twenty-five feet tall from a tight base four to six feet across. The slender green to golden culms carry small oval leaves along fine side branches, and the plant very rarely flowers.

This is a clumper, not a runner: it expands slowly outward from a tight base and does not need the rhizome barrier that running bamboos such as Phyllostachys demand, which makes it the safe choice for a screen near a boundary or a neighbour. The canes cut well for stakes, and the young shoots are edible once cooked.

Uses & Benefits:

Fine-textured arching evergreen canes that screen without the bulk of a solid hedge.

A fast, dense privacy screen that stays where it is planted, plus cut canes for garden stakes.

The dense clump gives good shelter and nesting cover for small birds.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Grass

Height

180 inches

Width

60 inches

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Zones

8, 9, 10

Water

Moderate

Humidity

Moderate

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Southern China and Southeast Asia

Toxicity

Non-toxic; young shoots edible when cooked

Planting

How to Grow

Plant in full sun to dappled shade in moist, well-drained soil.
Allow four to six feet of width for the mature clump.
Water regularly for the first two years while it establishes.
Feed in spring with a high-nitrogen or lawn-type fertiliser.
Thin the oldest canes at the base every few years.
Shelter it from cold drying winds at the edge of its range.

Pro Tip

Thin from the base rather than topping the canes — a cut cane never regrows its tip, so a topped screen stays blunt for years.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Give it space for a four- to six-foot clump 📏
Water steadily through the first two years 💧
Feed with a nitrogen-rich fertiliser in spring 🌿
Thin the oldest canes at ground level 🪚

Don't

Top the canes to control height ❌
Assume it needs a running-bamboo root barrier ❌
Let a container plant dry out completely ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Feed
Thin

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Evergreen privacy screen or hedgeLarge container or courtyard plantingWoodland edge and windbreak

Companion Plants

Japanese Forest Grass Fatsia Hosta CamelliaAutumn Fern

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Hedge Bamboo questions

What zones can Hedge Bamboo grow in?

Hedge Bamboo is hardy in USDA Zones 8–10. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Hedge Bamboo deer resistant?

Yes — Hedge Bamboo is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Hedge Bamboo bloom?

Hedge Bamboo typically blooms in rarely flowers. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Hedge Bamboo need full sun?

Hedge Bamboo does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.

Is Hedge Bamboo drought tolerant?

Yes — once established (usually after the first full season), Hedge Bamboo handles dry spells with minimal watering. Water deeply its first year to build the root system that makes that possible.