Some bamboo is invasive and some is not, and the difference comes down to two groups. Running bamboos, such as Phyllostachys, spread aggressively on underground stems and can take over a garden. Clumping bamboos, such as Fargesia, stay in a tidy, well behaved clump and are not invasive.
Choosing the right type from the start saves a great deal of trouble later, so here is what you need to know before you buy.
Running bamboo spreads
Running bamboos send out long underground rhizomes that can travel several metres from the parent plant and pop up in lawns, borders and even next door. Left unchecked they form dense thickets and are difficult to remove. They are not classed as invasive in law in the UK the way Japanese knotweed is, but they are a common cause of neighbour disputes, so they should always be contained.
Clumping bamboo stays put
Clumping bamboos grow outwards very slowly, expanding by only a few centimetres a year to form a neat, dense clump. They will not run across the garden and need no special containment. For the vast majority of gardens, a clumping bamboo such as Fargesia rufa or Fargesia 'Red Dragon' is the sensible, low worry choice. All of our bamboo plants are clumping, non-invasive varieties chosen for UK gardens.
How to contain running bamboo
If you want a vigorous running bamboo for fast screening, install a purpose made rhizome barrier, a thick rigid membrane, to a depth of around 60cm around the planting area, angled slightly outwards so rhizomes are deflected upwards where you can spot and cut them. Check the edges each year. Growing running bamboo in a large, solid container is another way to enjoy it safely. That said, a clumping bamboo gives you the same lush, evergreen screening and privacy with none of the hassle.
The simple rule
If you want bamboo without the worry, choose clumping. If you want the fastest possible screen and are prepared to install and maintain a barrier, running bamboo will deliver. To understand growth rates for both, see our guide on how fast bamboo grows.
Browse our hardy bamboo plants, all well behaved clumping varieties, and explore the wider hardy exotics range for more architectural, evergreen structure.