Need Well Behaved Bamboo in New Bern

I posted this on the Grass and Bamboo Forum, but thought I'd put it here on my favorite local forum as well:

I am looking for a clumping type bamboo to plant as part of a landscaping screen at the back of our lot, near a drainage ditch which runs between our lot and a vacant lot where a house could be built in the future.

I thought I wanted Green Screen, but when I actually saw it (at Bamboo Headquarters in Vista, California) the stalks (what are these called?) were pretty thin. I have a vision of something about 12 - 15 ft. high, with stalks 1 1/2 to 2 inches in diameter. Environment would be part/part shade.

I love the bamboo stand at the Carl Sandburg House in Flat Rock, but suspect it is not clumping and therefore not well behaved.

Bamboo Headquarters recommended Borinda Boliana. Has anyone had any luck with something of this nature, and where can I get it without paying the big bucks to buy from Bamboo Headquarters?

Thanks in advance,
Entlie

I found golden bamboo at Lowe's last year for @$16.00. It is not running all over so far, but the stalks are still thin as I assume the plant is still young. I would look on the plant trading pages to see if anyone has some, a lot of peoplee want to get rid of it once it starts. I also noticed it all over roadsides after I bought some. Good Luck!

I think this site has some good information on the characteristics of the different varieties:
http://www.bambootexas.com/
(Some day I will rob a bank and get their Lako).

Also, I am not sure of the web address but you can Google the "Bamboo Farm in Savannah"; they are a branch of UGA that once did extensive research into bamboo.

Thanks for your comments. I also posted this note in the "Grass and Bamboo" forum, and got a response there as well. If interested, you can check it out there.

Entlie

We had this discussion on another forum somewhere..................... i will see if i can find it!!!! We found a good clump forming one for california!!
Wow, New Bern, I have a friend that lives there down fort road........... small world isnt it.


Mark

I've had very good luck with a planting of three "clumps" of Alphonse Karr (Bambusa multiplex) here in
Charleston, SC, to screen a rather unattractive range marker. They are right on the river (brackish), not very well drained, in relatively alkaline soil (7.3 ph). They were about 3' high when I put them in 2 years ago (looked ridiculous!), but they're now approaching 8'---and gorgeous. They have definately multiplied, but the original clumps are only about 4"(circumferance) bigger than the original planting, so I'm not scared of them...

Thanks, StonoRiver. I will check that out. I am hoping to plant some type of bamboo in March.

We come through your area on our sail boat most winters, on our way south to the Bahamas, anchor at what is called the "John's Island" anchorage on our chart, across from a big bridge and launch ramp. This is our first winter to stay at home in 3 years. Nice to do some winter gardening, but we are looking forward to heading south again next winter.

Entlie

Stono, does your Alphonse Karr droop over, sort of like a fountain? I have what is supposed to be an AK and I dislike the way mine performs. It does make a good screen but it is now about 10' wide because the canes fall over. It would make a beautiful specimen plant somewhere but I wanted it to be part of a tapestry border screen with different textures and colors and it definitely takes up too much room. It looked so upright in the pot when I bought it. Shame on me for not doing my homework first.

Gee Entlie, I hope you find something that works for you since I am also looking and also live in New Bern, the Fairfield Harbour area. Would love to have a non-invasive clump of 15' tall bamboo in my backyard next to the canal. Give me a shout if you find something please.

John

Tgiforever - Thanks for your note. I live in FFH too! I'll send you a private D-Mail with my contact information. Haven't made a decision yet, but I want to get something in the ground early in the growing season.

Entlie

LOL shame you 2 don't have some of the bamboo that grows in the Selma area.
I wish I had a good cane pole maybe you will get something that is not so invaisave. I was raised with my dad having a cane field and we had a sitting room right in the middle of it. He just cut off the cane when he needed a good fishing pole. We even had glider rockers and a table. you never hear of people having cane s much anymore.
Waving from Raleigh, and wishing to be at Kennel's Beach, where we are supposed to be but hubby was called into work early yesterday.
.
Lavina


This message was edited Feb 18, 2007 2:13 PM

LavinaMae, Good to hear from you! I'll let you know what bamboo we end up with, and I'm saving those pine cones for you!
Entlie

Hopefully I'll be down in March. I am so mad that DH was called in to work.

Lavina

Entlie; not sure where the "John's Island Anchorage" is, but I live just east of the Limehouse bridge and it has a big boat landing across the river from me, so you've probably anchored within spittin' distance of those Alphonse Karr's! Small world!

Yes ardesia, my Alphonse Karr do droop over---it's why I like the plant. I needed a screen, and for that it works just fine. But it forced me to move some sun-loving salvia and grasses to a new bed this winter. Strangely, the sun-loving Muhlenbergia dumas doesn't seem to mind the shade. I'll never understand these plants!

I should have done my homework on AK. You are right, it is magnificent, just like a fountain, but in the wrong place for me. I'm using it for a screen also but my spot is not big enough to showcase it's beauty.

Years ago when we lived closer to Charleston, we used to put our boat in at the Limehouse landing all the time.

Entlie, give me a buzz if you ever moor on the Morgan.

Here are a variety of bamboos that are good for screens, but most (all?) are 'running' not 'clumping' bamboos, which means they are difficult to contain:

http://www.jmbamboo.com/fences.htm

Here are a variety of 'clumping' bamboos, but because they do not spread very much, many plants must be planted to create a screen:

http://www.bamboogarden.com/Hardy%20clumping.htm

The only to have your screen and not have the bamboo spread is to plant 'running' bamboos with a rizome barrier roughly 3' deep. Most bamboo vendors sell barrier. If you would like to research further, I suggest the American Bamboo Society:

http://www.americanbamboo.org/

Hope this helps,

Hank Cochran
Oriental, NC

Thank you, Hank.

I'll digest this information, and post what I finally do.

I live in New Bern. Do you know of any places around here that sell bamboo? I saw some at Williams in Merritt last fall, but the clums were very thin and I am looking for something thicker.

I would be happy with just a starter clump, and then I could transplant offshoots to make other clumps. Do you think that would work? I am here to stay, and don't need instant landscaping.

Entlie

I don't know of any bamboo vendors in this area. Regarding small culms, remember that all young bamboo plants have small culms; with time some species grow much larger culms others don't. So, you have to know the size of culms on a mature growth.

Hank, Yes, I get that, but thanks for reminding me.
Entlie (Lynn)

I got mine from Ted Stevens at Nurseries Caroliniana, Entlie, but I had to drive up there to get them (North Augusta) because they were in 7 gallon containers. He had a number of different varieties he was growing, but I had my blinders on at the time, so I didn't pay much attention to them. Might be worth a phone call...

Anyone who can keep blinders on at Ted Stephen's place is a STRONG person. LOL

I hear ya, ardesia! The blinders were only on for the Bambusa...picked up 3 different varieties of Sarcococca that I hadn't seen before as "trysies"....only the 'hookeriana' seems to be able to beat our summers, but I haven't given up yet! I'm going to get some more S. ruscifolia this year and try again... Ain't it fun?

Last fall I called every nursery I could think of looking for Ilex latifolia and Ted's place was the only one I could find that had it. I ran up there and got the last 3 he had. Then I went to the CHS Festival at Middleton and met the grower from Ashe Point Plantation in Meggett and he had plenty of them. My DH accused me of going all the way to N. Augusta just to see what else I could score while I was there. LOL, he was right!

I will be checking out more trees at Ashe Point however, he had beautiful material.

Ted's Place would be quite a drive for me, but I might have to check this out!
Entlie

The website does not begin to do the place justice.

http://www.nurcar.com/index.htm

I'll be going thru North Augusta in April, let me know if you want me to detour to the Nursery.
I'll be going to Tallapoosa Ga the other side of I-20.

Lavina

LavinaMae, You do get around, girl!

No, I wouldn't make you detour, but I would love to see it!

Entlie

LOL my Mom lives in Ga. and I go at least 2st a year.
I'll be at Kennel's Beach Next week end if I can get a chance I'll call.

Lavina

LavinaMae,

I'd love to see you, but I'll be at a two-day knotting and splicing class with The Captain at the Maritime Museum in Beaufort.

That would have been great - I have some pinecones for you!

I ought to be really good at tying knots and so forth after two days of it!

Entlie

BAMBOO ON THE WAY!

Earlier in this thread I mentioned that I had also posted my note in the Grass and Bamboo forum.
Hikaro Takayama suggested one that sounded interesting - Thamnocalamus Tessellatus. I did quite a bit of research on it (and others that were recommended) and just ordered Thamnocalamus Tessellatus from Bamboo Headquarters in the San Diego area.

I'm so excited about getting it here and in the ground! Hope to post some pictures as it flourishes!

Thanks to everyone for your replies and encouragement!

Entlie

Oh WOW, I love that one! The fact that it grows into a taller and straighter clump is just what I have been looking for. Thanks for doing all that research!!!!

How are the shipping rates?

Ardesia, I hope I love it, too. Shipping rates weren't cheap - Bamboo Headquarters Size #5 is a 5 gallon, and that's what I ordered. Price ws $49; shipping was $40, definitely a big budget item for our little landscape.

I think they had smaller sizes at bamboogarden.com, but we actually visited Bamboo Headquarters when we were in San Diego for Thanksgiving, and were impressed by the healthy plants and the knowledgeable staff so decided to go with them. Bamboo garden is probably just as good.

Entlie

Shipping large plants like Bamboo - which doesn't come in small sizes - is always expensive but for the right plant it is worth it.

We want to see lots of pictures when it arrives.

ALWAYS the best way, Entlie, in my experience! You can tell a lot about the place just by looking at the plants and the set-up, but actually talking with the people who sell these plants is the clincher for me. It's why I like Woodlander's, Nurseries Caroliniana, Plant Delights, and (sniff, sniff!) Singing Springs.

Stono, a few years ago a friend invited me to to tour some private gardens along with her friend Pam Baggett. We had a delightful afternoon and, although I had ordered plenty of plants from Singing Springs, I never knew Pam was the owner until months later.

Certainly I can understand why she closed the retail operation as she was on the road for speaking engagements so much of the time but, as you said, sniff, sniff.

Well my Thamnocalamus Tessellatus arrived from Bamboo Headquarters and we planted it within the hour of its arrival. The packaging was great - it came in a tall cardboard box, in a 5 gallon black plastic pot that had been wrapped with Saran wrap type stuff to keep the plant from shifting in the pot or the dirt from falling out.

In the photo I have written "New Bamboo" directly under the plant so you can determine which one it is in the landscape. I am hoping for a beautiful clump of bamboo to that becomes part of our screen in the event someone builds behind us some day.

FYI, Bamboo Headquarters is in Vista, CA, and their web site is bambooheadquarters.com

Entlie

That looks like a wonderful clump. Keep us posted on it's progress. a

Peeking in from the Upper Midwest to see hte new bamboo Mom (entlie) found - nice! See you this weekend!

Stacy

Hey Entlie! My wife and I went on the "Garden Gate" walk through a number of old chrurchyards in downtown Chas. yesterday. Got more caught up reading the gravestones than noticing the plants---Man! a lot of those folk died before they reached 30! But I did notice a clump of Bamboo in a corner of one of the graveyards that was huge in height (30+ feet)t, but an obvious "clumper" (it was no more than 4' in diameter at the base, and had clearly been in the ground a long time...runner bamboos would have taken over the whole churchyard in that time). Have no idea of the species, but you might want to check it out. It was a "straight up" form, not the swooping habit of AK, and would seem to be a perfect high screen. It might be worth a look-see. Have no clue as to what is (foliage was way beyond my reach), but I thought of you the minute I encountered it. It was tall. Didn't cascade like AK...just served as an effective screen from the brick wall behind it