Which bamboo is evergreen?

Bamboo is a versatile plant and resource, used in landscaping, construction, textiles and more. It is a member of the grass family, and there are certain species of bamboo which are evergreen: they keep their foliage, and remain functional, throughout the year. Today we’re going to look at the differences between evergreen and non-evergreen bamboo to boost your bamboo gardening knowledge!

What is evergreen bamboo?

Evergreen bamboo varieties are very common – these species don’t lose their leaves in the winter, making them a great choice for a year-round plant. Bamboo plants do tend to drop leaves making way for new ones in the spring, but it is rare to see these evergreen plants with no leaves at all!

There are two main types of bamboo: ‘clumping’ and ‘running’. Running bamboo, which has long underground rhizomes, is the more temperate of the two making it more cold-hardy, and therefore properly evergreen. You can identify these bamboo varieties thanks to the ridges and grooves on the stems.

Non-evergreen bamboo

There are some species of bamboo that are considered non-evergreen; they are deciduous, meaning they shed their leaves annually. This happens when the weather gets too cold for tropical bamboo varieties. These species would generally not be deciduous in their natural habitat – the shedding is a product of circumstance rather than genetics.

Clumping bamboo species are the more tropical of the two, making them more likely to be non-evergreen. They have short underground rhizomes, and can be identified by their completely smooth stems.

Differences between evergreen and non-evergreen bamboo

The main differences are in the bamboo growth habits; evergreen bamboo, which is generally running bamboo, spreads much faster and over a wider space – clumping bamboo, as the name suggests, tends to stay closer to its point of origin. Evergreen varieties are the more cold hardy bamboo too; they can withstand less temperate weather without losing their leaves.

While the stems have a wide colour range, bamboo foliage is and should be green; shades vary, of course, but with a non-evergreen bamboo plant you’ll notice the leaves turning yellow or brown as they drop and fall off. Green bamboo is healthy bamboo!

Evergreen bamboo is more likely to be used for landscaping, too, especially in areas where the climate changes throughout the year. Garden bamboo is found across the globe, as it can withstand most temperatures and looks pretty. And with evergreen bamboo spreading widely, bamboo landscaping is used to create privacy screens. Evergreen plants make for easier and more frequent bamboo cultivation, too.

Popular evergreen bamboo varieties

There are a few very popular evergreen plants in the bamboo family; Phyllostachys is one of the most common genera, with around 50 species falling into this particular type. They are runners, making them more cold-hardy and evergreen – they can thrive up to around -10°C.

Phyllostachys nigra is very popular as ornamental bamboo, because it has very striking black stems – the bamboo shoots start as a rich dark green before transforming into a breathtaking ebony shade.

Phyllostachys heteroclada is one of the best types of evergreen bamboo for rainy areas, thanks to air canals in the rhizomes. It typically grows to be around 35 feet tall, making it ideal for privacy screening.

Phyllostachys aurea is one of the strongest types of bamboo and therefore most commonly used as evergreen screening plants in busier areas. The stems are generally light green or vivid yellow.

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Conclusion

Most types of bamboo are evergreen in nature, but this is climate dependent; in cold weather, some bamboo varieties will suffer. Evergreen bamboo is useful for aesthetic and privacy screening, especially in countries where bamboo is not particularly native – the hardiness of these plants means that they can be enjoyed across the globe!

If you are looking for further resources, check out our other bamboo blogs where you can learn more about this incredible resource.