One of the most prestigious plants to grow indoors or on your lawn today is bamboo, and there are several types that you can choose from. Regardless of your home or business location, you are sure to find the ideal bamboo plants to grow and display. If you decided to grow blue bamboo, here are some important facts to ensure your success.
Biography of Blue Bamboo
Blue Bamboo, or Bambusa chungii, is a lovely type of clumping bamboo which is also known by another name, Tropical Blue Bamboo. The origin of Blue bamboo dates back to southern China and Vietnam and was introduced in the United States in the early 1990s. Blue Bamboo is a very large and tall species with culms, or woody, hollow aerial stems, covered in white powder, which gives this plant a bluish appearance.
When this plant reaches maturity, blue bamboo can grow up to 30 feet tall with culms reaching a diameter of 2 inches. In ideal conditions, a blue bamboo plant will reach maximum height within a couple of years, as this is one of the fastest growing bamboo species available today.
Blue bamboo loves the sun and thrives in higher temperatures, but can also do amazingly well in partly sunny environments. This plant requires temperatures that are a minimum of 21°F, as the leaves will die if exposed to lower temperatures. This specimen is easily adaptable and is tolerant of wind, rain and dry conditions. Even when exposed to such conditions, the Blue Bamboo maintains its impressive beauty.
Where to Display Blue Bamboo
Blue Bamboo is an excellent specimen to use for landscaping purposes. You can also create an impressive privacy screen and you will be amazed by the fast growth of this bamboo plant. However, you should ensure that your bamboo is located in an area that receives full sun to partial shade, or even light shade. Whether you wish to grow Blue Bamboo as a single specimen or plant several in a row to form a wonderful privacy screen, you will be amazed by how remarkable this bamboo plant looks when it reaches maturity.
If you decide to use tropical blue bamboo to create your own privacy screen, then you should plant your bamboo 6 – 8 feet apart. While they only grow 20 – 30 feet tall, they have a wonderfully thick foliage that makes a great point of interest during the winter months and can provide the privacy you need.
According to Dave’s Garden, tropical blue bamboo is known to thrive in the following Hardiness Zones:
- USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
- USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
- USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
- USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
- USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)
Caring for Blue Bamboo
Blue Bamboo is one of the rarest species of bamboo, making it also rather expensive when compared to other types. However, the unparalleled beauty of this bluish plant will definitely complement your landscape, whether you choose to grow it indoors or outdoors, as a single plant or as a privacy screen.
Despite its rarity, Blue Bamboo is relatively easy to grow and it is not difficult to maintain its beauty. However, it is difficult to propagate and it requires intensive labor. Blue bamboo has average water needs, requiring only that you need to water it regularly while being careful not to overdo it. This is especially important during the plant’s 1st year after transplanting.
In order to propagate this type of bamboo, here is what you can do:
- Divide the rootball
- Divide rhizomes, corms, tubers or bulbs
- Air layering
In addition, adding a yearly application of slow release, high nitrogen fertilizer will ensure that your blue bamboo is receiving all of the nutrients that it needs.
Is Blue Bamboo a good choice for you?
Considering the care and location requirements of blue bamboo, you will have to decide whether this stunning plant can grow and thrive where you live. As you can see, Blue Bamboo has minimum requirements and is a fast growing plant which is easily adaptable, making it one of the most popular choices available for interior and exterior locations.