I am wondering if there is a plant that resembles bamboo for zone 6b which won't take over? I was thinking about something like sorghum cane, but it is probably too cold here. I just don't trust bamboo.
Is there a substitute for bamboo?
Gloria
is this something you plan on growing in the pond or as a plant on the banks of the pond? Some of the rushes are quite nice.
If you don't find anything you like though, you can always plant the bamboo in a pot and then sink the pot into the ground to keep it contained.
Thanks, Carolyn, I may buy it and sink it. There is a bamboo nursery close to the parkway. I have spoken to him once and he said black bamboo is not that invasive, but I wouldn't trust it for the world.
Yes bnamboos is very invasive!! I have few varieties and they are all in pots and quite lovely during summer. i don't know if you can grow bamboo in water but they grow in marshes so it might be possible. Bellieg
Has anyone tried concrete collars for bamboo? I read on a bamboo grower's website that you can dig a trench about a foot deep, put in concrete and that will keep the bamboo from spreading. That would give you more flexibility for designs than a pot but I have no idea how well it works.
Some of the reasons I dont plant bamboo:
http://www.berkeysupply.com/bamboo-barriers.html?gclid=CPX81InEjJkCFQ4eDQodUzNEmQ
http://www.lewisbamboo.com/bamboo-barrier.html
http://www.bamboogarden.com/barrier.htm
I would love to have a clump too, but the risks are too great. Even those that are advertised as clump formers are also described as vigorous. "Vigorous" to me is code for "Don't turn your back on this one".
http://www.rarefindnursery.com/index.cfm/action/usersearch.htm
OMG! Bamboo doesn't look like its worth the aggravation to me.....
HehHehHeh! My sentiments exactly. Who needs to go there! Are you familiar with the old fashioned brown glazed tile sewer line pipe that had a flared collar where the sections were joined together? That does work as bamboo planter if you can get a piece about 30 inches long excluding the flared collar. You bury it in the ground with the collar above the soil line and plant the bamboo inside. The collar is tall enough that the rihzomes dont climb over it. It's deep enough to keep the rhizomes from running and strong eonugh to keep them from breaking through. Problem is you cant find that type of soil pipe today. They use black plastic instead and it does'nt have a collar.
I am in one way lucky where I live.. not much is invasive.. you have to work to even get an "invasive" plant to grow!
Bamboo, if given shade where you are, might be the one that could surprise you!
Not worth the effort - I'll stick with the zebra rush!
I think I might plant some in the area behind my house near a neighbor I don't like...heheheeee
I've always been scared of planting bamboo too. I wanted to add in addition to some other suggestions, a plant that I absolutely love - Hakone grass. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/54890/
It doesn't look exactly the same, but it has an Japanese garden flair.
I have a dwarf bamboo for a couple of years and it has not spread. I don't know if I have a plant marker on it or not but will check tomorrow if I remember. It was advertised as a slow grower and not invasive in my area.
Wow! That would be great to know. I really would like to have some. Did you get it locally?
I just checked out the snapple sites. That is enough to scare anyone away from bamboo but they really are pretty and graceful. I think I saw my small bamboo on the second site listed under zone 5. It is dwarf and small and grows in shade. It does die back on the top but fills in by summer and then stops growing.
Yes I bought it locally and it really hasn't done anything except fill out a bit. After reading about all those barriers I think I need to look at my bamboo a little closer. . . LOL! No actually when I bought the plant I discussed it in depth with the nursery and they assured me that it was no a crazy invasive plant and that I should be able to manage it quite well. They also showed me some in their landscape that had been there for years and it was not huge or in a barrier.
Has anyone suggested nandina? I have a variety I think is called Nana. It is only about a foot tall. It has bamboo like foliage. I love because of the red burgundy tinged coloring, which is very beautiful in the fall when it turns darker and more colorful. Other Nandina varieties are taller. My neighbor has one, I do not know the variety, that is about 4 ft tall. I have had mine for years and I wish it WOULD spread more! Mine stays in the same clump that it was when I planted it. Actually, I would like to try and propagate it by trying cuttings this year.
I have no experience with bamboo because I was never brave enough to try it, with it aggressive reputation...too scared to even try a clump bamboo! If I do, it will stay in a pot above ground!
I have some hakone grass...love it. I even use it in flower arrangements, too.
Nandina!? Had'nt considered that.