Bamboos for Short–term pot culture.  Plants in this category require division, planting out or replacing after 2-3 years in a pot. Quoted heights, in metres, are the normal maximum for garden specimens. Plants in pots are likely to be shorter. Rhizome or root types, which control the way a bamboo spreads, are as follows:

1. Pachymorphic (clumping) rhizomes

2. Leptomorphic (running) rhizomes

3. Intermediate (aspects of both)

Name

Height Max. m

Root Type

Note

Fargesia robusta

4

1

Red shoots, culms ageing to yellow, large dark leaves

F. utilis

5

1

Elegant ‘fountain’ habit, culms red tinted in sun

x Hibanobambusa Tranquillans

2.5

3

Large glossy leaves

x H. tranquilla ‘Shiroshima’

2.5

3

As above, with creamy yellow variegation

Phyllostachys

2 *

* usually 3 in UK. A large genus with several suitable for pots:-

P. aurea

5

AGM

P. aureosulcata ‘Aureocaulis’

4.5

Zig-zag culms in shades of gold and red

P. mannii

4

twisted narrow leaves

P. iridescens

6

green culms

P. nigra

3.5

AGM. Black-stemmed bamboo – older canes turn ebony in the sun

P. parvifolia

4

Develops large culms, tiny leaves

P. propinqua

4

Medium leaves with a twist, thick culms

P. vivax ‘Aureocaulis’

5

Golden culms, beautifully striped with green

Semiarindinaria Kagamiana

4

1

Thin canes ageing to purple, leaves held upright

Thamnocalamus Crassinodus

4

1

Tiny leaves, culms with blue bloom turning rich yellow with age