Bamboo is one of the world’s fastest growing and most versatile plants. However, if you are considering a sub-tropical variety of bamboo, then it is important that you choose a good, cold hardy bamboo and ensure that you live in a climate zone where your plants will be able to survive and thrive.
Determining Your Climate Zone
One of the surest ways to guarantee that you are in the right area for your chosen variety of bamboo to grow is by determining your climate zone. In general, most varieties of sub-tropical bamboo can grow well anywhere between zones 8 and 10. However, each bamboo variety is different and it is important that you check your bamboo’s preferred growing zones.
The Best Bamboo For Cold Temperatures
Seabreeze
Seabreeze Bamboo, also known as Bambusa Malingensis, is often chosen for its cold hardy properties as it is viable down to 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Seabreeze Bamboo is best known for its privacy screening and cold hardy qualities. Thriving in full sun to partial shade, Seabreeze Bamboo is one of the most popular bamboo varieties for privacy screening due to its numerous lateral branches and tall screening height.
Giant Timber
Giant Timber Bamboo (Bambusa Oldhamii) is another variety that is popular, both for its cold hardiness and privacy screening characteristics. Giant Timber Bamboo can survive temperatures down to 22 degrees Fahrenheit, and can reach maximum heights of 55 feet tall. Well-known as the famous Timber bamboo that has been used throughout Disney World, this bamboo variety features an attractive deep shade of green and has straight culms that have relatively short branches.
Tropical Blue
Tropical Blue Bamboo (Bambusa Chungi) is not only a great screening bamboo, but is also an ideal bamboo showpiece. With a maximum height of 30 feet and able to endure temperatures down to 21 degrees Fahrenheit, Tropical Blue Bamboo is most well-known for its wax covered culms that appear to be a beautiful shade of blue, with new shoots having a white powdery appearance. This bamboo is definitely one of the most popular and beautiful bamboos that we have.
1 comment
I live in Zone 7, control North Carolina. While winters here are fairly mild, at times, usually January, we experience overnight low temperatures at about 15F, but typically during the day, temperatures will usually climb to > 32 F.
Could you recommend a few bamboos that can survive in this climate?
Thanks,
Tom