Bamboo plants for ornamental, screening, hedging, fence and landscaping

Bambusa eutuldoides — 大眼竹 (da yan zhu) — A Chinese bamboo, similar to Bambusa multiplex, but less tight, more vigorous and taller, branches from base up. Height 6-12 m, diameter 4-6 cm, somewhat drought resistant. Plants used as low screen, hedge, and for erosion control along river banks; culms for light house construction, and farm appliances.


Bambusa gibba — 坭竹 (ni zhu) — Vigorous clumper, similar to Bambusa eutuldoides but culms more erect, dark green, branches from base up. Height 8-10 m, diameter to 6 cm. Culms for oil extraction, scaffolding and making farm and fishing appliances; plants for medium-sized to tall hedges, natural fences and screening.


Bambusa glaucophylla, striped leaves — ไผ่ลายเงิน (phai lai ngoen) — Malay Dwarf Striped Bamboo — Height 3-4 m, diameter 1.5-2.5 cm; dense clumper; habit erect, bending, branching throughout. A low bamboo with variegated small leaves for every garden. May occasionally revert to the wild form with larger green leaf foliage and taller culms. Easy growing, moisture-retentive soil, full sun, tolerates light or partial shade and some drought. For low or medium-sized trimmed or natural hedge, or solitary. Suitable as a container plant.


Bambusa glaucophylla, green leaves — ไผ่ลายเงินใบสีเขียว (phai lai ngoen bai si khiao) — Green Malay Dwarf Bamboo — Grows somewhat taller than its striped-leaf variety. Suitable for hedges.


Bambusa lako — ไผ่ดำติมอร์ (phai dam timor) — Timor Black Bamboo — The best ornamental clumper with glossy black culms. Height 10-15 m, diameter 5-9 cm, habit straight erect, slightly bending above, no low branching. Easy growing on heavy, somewhat moist soil, in full sun or light/partial shade, best on a sheltered site, not exposed to strong winds. Shoots emerge green, turning into black in the same year, occasionally with a narrow green stripe. A feature bamboo, solitary or in a group, suitable also for small gardens. Culms used for furniture-making, interior decor, and light-weight construction.


Bambusa longispiculata — ไผ่ลำมะลอก (phai lam malok), ไผ่ยายกอ (phai yai ko) — Height 12-15 m, diameter 4-8 cm, open clumper, culms dark green, glossy, without branching on lower culm; culm internodes glabrous. Shoots for food, culms for construction, furniture and basketry, plants for landscaping.


Bambusa maculata — ไผ่อังกะลุง (phai angkalung) — From Indonesia and the Malay Peninsula. Culms used for making music instruments.


Bambusa multiplex — ไผ่จีน (phai chin) — Tropical Hedge Bamboo — Height 3.5-5 m, diameter 1-2 cm; dense clumper; habit erect, strongly bending, almost arching. A widely cultivated low bamboo for every garden. Culms and foliage leaves green; culms turning to orange-yellow in full sun but remain green in shade. Easy growing, moisture-retentive soil, full sun or light shade, tolerates deep shade and some drought. For low to medium-sized natural hedges or visual screens. The best bamboo for low (2-3 m high) trimmed hedges. Also attractive as a solitary or in a group. Does well as a container plant.


Bambusa multiplex 'Alphonse Karr' — ไผ่สีชมพู (phai si chomphu) — Alphonse Karr Hedge Bamboo — Height 3-5 m, diameter 1-1.5 cm; dense clumper; culms erect, slightly bending. A feature bamboo of low height for every garden. Green-striped pinkish shoots become yellow or orange-yellow culms with random green stripes of variable width. Leaves green. Easy growing, moisture-retentive soil, full or partial sun, light or dense shade, somewhat drought resistant. For low to medium-sized dense hedges or visual screens, or as a solitary. Does well as a container plant.


Bambusa multiplex 'Stripestem Fernleaf' — ไผ่เสฉวน (phai sechuan) — Stripestem Fernleaf Hedge Bamboo — Small plant, usually less than 2 m, diameter 1 cm; dense clumper; habit erect, V-shaped, small leaves, culms yellow with green stripes. A very low ornamental bamboo with fern-like leaves, might occasionally revert to larger foliage. Slow-growing, moisture-retentive soil, best in light shade. Can be planted as a low hedge, or solitary. Does well as a container plant.


"Bambusa nana" — ไผ่เลี้ยงดำ (phai liang dam), ไผ่เลี้ยง (phai liang) — Height up to 15 m, diameter 5 cm; dense clumper; habit erect, slightly bending outward, no low branching. An outstanding bamboo of beautiful habit, highly appreciated in Thailand, new shoots cinnamon-colored, foliage leaves small and narrow, mid to dark green. Culms straight and dark green, may fade basally to whitish with age; thick-walled with basal part nearly solid. Easy growing, moisture-retentive soil, full sun, tolerates light shade. For medium to tall-sized visual screen, row, group, or solitary, also suitable as a tall trimmed hedge. Shoots of good taste. Culms used for light-weight constructions, tools, ladders, and furniture-making. This bamboo species is not yet identified and has no valid botanical name, or it has been misidentified, consequently misnamed, sometimes as "Bambusa multiplex", "Bambusa nana", or "Thyrsostachys oliveri".


"Bambusa nana" — ไผ่เลี้ยงหวาน (phai liang wan), ไผ่ทวาย (phai thawai) — Height to about 12 m, diameter 4-5 cm; dense clumper; habit erect, slightly bending outward, no low branching. A bamboo similar to phai liang, but color of leaves and young culms light to mid green, shoots emerge green, occasionally with a cream stripe. Growth requirements and uses same as phai liang dam. Shoots are said to be more delicious.


"Bambusa nana" 'Wiman Thong' (วิมานทอง) — ไผ่เลี้ยงลายทอง (phai liang lai thong) — The most striking ornamental Thai bamboo with striped shiny culms.


"Bambusa nana" Quails Garden — A clone from Quails Garden, USA. This over 10 m tall bamboo was assumed to be the same as, or similar to phai liang, but there are considerable differences.


"Bambusa oldhamii" — US landscape strain — Quite different from the Thai shoot production strain! Culm habit stiffly erect, with drooping tops, up to 20 m tall by 10 cm in diameter. One of the best tall bamboos for landscaping in southern USA, mostly as solitary, but can be also used for screening.


Bambusa pervariabilis × Dendrocalamus daii No. 3 — An intergeneric hybrid from China.


Bambusa pervariabilis × Dendrocalamus latiflorus No. 7 — An intergeneric hybrid from China.

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Bambusa pervariabilis × Dendrocalamus latiflorus × Bambusa textilis No. 1 — An intergeneric hybrid from China.







Bambusa pervariabilis 'Viridistriata' — Culms yellow with green stripes.


Bambusa rigida — From China, similar to Bambusa textilis.


Bambusa sp. 'Maroochy', Dendrocalamus sp. 'Maroochy', Dendrocalamus sp. 'Maroochydore' — From Australia. An unidentified species of Bambusa of unrecorded origin, the cultivated variety found in Australia. Plants vigorous and tall growing, culms with yellowish stripes, low branching.

Bambusa textilis — Weaver's Bamboo — From China. Height 8 - 12 m, diameter 5 - 6 cm. Culms split for woven ware and basketry; plants as garden ornamental and for screening.


Bambusa textilis var. fusca — Dark Weavers Bamboo — Culm sheaths with brown hairs.

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Bambusa textilis var. gracilis — Graceful Weaver's Bamboo — Smaller in ultimate height, culms slender, diameter less than 3 cm, tops nodding. As solitary garden ornamental, for screening and hedges.

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Bambusa textilis 'Kanapaha' — Kanapaha Weaver's Bamboo — Culms taller than normal B. textilis, lower half of culm branchless, culm internodes copiously covered with white powder which contributes to a prominent blue appearance. As garden ornamental and for screening.

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Bambusa textilis 'Mutabilis' — Culms with persistent white powder and long internodes, strong growing. As garden ornamental and for screening.






Bambusa textilis 'Scranton' — Clumps more open, branches short.


Bambusa ventricosa 'Kimmei' — Cultivar originates from Japan. Culms yellow with narrow green stripes; foliage leaf blades occasionally with a narrow cream stipe. Ornamental pot plant.

Bambusa vulgaris 'Striata', Bambusa vulgaris 'Vittata' — ไผ่เหลือง (phai lueang) — Golden Common Bamboo — Height 10-15 m, diameter 5-12 cm; clumper; habit erect, slightly bending, branching throughout. A widely planted and much appreciated ornamental bamboo. Culms bright yellow, randomly striped with dark green of varying width. Easy and fast growing, moist or moisture-retentive soil, best in full sun, but does well in light shade, too. For tall visual screens, or as a solitary ornamental. Culms good for temporary light-weight constructions. Shoots edible (with bitter taste), liked by Vietnamese rather than Thai people.

Bambusa vulgaris 'Wamin' — ไผ่น้ำเต้า (phai nam tao) — Buddha's Belly Bamboo — Height 4-8 m, diameter 10-12 cm, usually not taller than 5 m; clumper; habit erect, slightly bending, branching throughout. A widely planted and much appreciated ornamental as for its shortened, inflated shape of internodes on the lower part of culms. Usually, young branches on the lower culms will be removed to accentuate this peculiarity. New shoots may revert into normal shaped culms. Easy growing, moisture-retentive soil, full sun or light shade. Planted as a solitary ornamental, or as a group. Branches and foliage can be trimmed. Culms used for handicraft.

Cephalostachyum pergracile, Schizostachyum pergracile — ไผ่ข้าวหลาม (phai khao lam) — Height 15 m, diameter 8 cm; dense clumper; habit upright, branches thin, numerous and short. A beautiful bamboo which does not require much space in a garden. Culm sheaths golden yellow on bluish young culms. Native of Thailand. Moisture-retentive soil, sun, light or partial shade. Planted as a solitary or group, best in the light understorey of tall trees. Culm internodes are used as cooking vessels for a Thai sticky rice dish called ข้าวหลาม (khao lam), thus this species has been over-exploited in Thailand. Culms used for light-weight construction and split work. Plants for landscaping.

Cephalostachyum pingbianense, Schizostachyum pingbianense — 小薄竹 (xiǎo bo zhú) — From China, height 8 m, for landscaping.

Cephalostachyum scandens, Schizostachyum scandens — 真麻竹 (zhēn má zhú) — [072] — From China. Plants for landscaping.


Cephalostachyum virgatum, Schizostachyum virgatum — ไผ่เฮียะ (phai hia) — Height 6-12 m, diameter 4-7 cm; dense clumper; habit erect, bending over, branches thin, numerous and short. A bamboo with attractive habit and medium-sized foliage leaves. Native of Thailand. Moisture-retentive soil, in sun, light or partial shade. Solitary or group, best in the light understorey of tall trees. Culms used for light-weight construction, basketry and split work; plants for landscaping.


Chimonobambusa quadrangularis — ไผ่สี่เหลี่ยม (phai si liam) — From southern China, culms nearly square in cross section, runner, for landscaping (groves).


Chusquea liebmannii — From Mexico, suitable for subtropical climates. For gardens and landscaping.


Dendrocalamopsis variostriata — From China, height 5 m, diameter 4 cm, as a garden ornamental, suitable for small gardens.

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Dendrocalamus elegans (?) — ไผ่รวกเขา (phai ruak khao) — [530] — From Krabi.

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Dendrocalamus elegans (?) — ไผ่ตัน (phai tan) — [406] — From Satun.

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Dendrocalamus elegans (?) — [538] — From Buboi Island; very low growing, possibly not over 4 m tall, culms arching to the ground.

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Dendrocalamus elegans (?) — [531] — From Phuket; height about 10 m, widely arching and clambering into nearby vegetation, small leaves, delicate appearance, culm internodes bluish when young.

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Dendrocalamus elegans (?), Langkawi Island population — [288A] — Limestone cliff bamboo, 5 m tall or more, from Langkawi Island, Kedah, northern peninsular Malaysia, culms arching, leaves small, grows well in normal garden soil.

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Dendrocalamus membranaceus 'Hai Aphai' (ให้อภัย) — [223-1] — Leaves with sprinkled streaks in white, new shoots in light pink.

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Dendrocalamus minor f. amoenus — Ghost Bamboo, Angel Mist Bamboo — Height 8 m, diameter 6 cm. Culms with light green stripes obscured by white mealy deposit, thus appearing bluish-grey. An exceptionally attractive bamboo for tropics and subtropics.

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Dendrocalamus sinicus — 巨龙竹 (ju long zhu) — From Yunnan, China. Wild or planted in northern Thailand. Said to be the tallest bamboo in the world, can reach a height of over 30 m. A culm length of 46 m by 36 cm basal diameter was recorded from Yunnan. Easy growing clumper, on moist or moisture-retentive soil. For construction, beams and pillars, plywood, paper-making; plants for landscaping.

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Dendrocalamus sp. "Sang Mon" — ไผ่ซางหม่น (phai sang mon) — Height usually over 15 m, diameter over 10 cm; clumper; habit erect and perfectly upright, slightly bending above, resembles Dendrocalamus giganteus. Dark green culms and foliage, young culms with white mealy deposit, culms thick-walled. Easy growing, moisture-retentive soil, full sun. Culms for house construction and furniture, mainly planted in Thailand for producing chop-sticks and tooth-picks. Shoots delicious. The plant has much ornamental value and used for landscaping, very suitable for tall screening. This bamboo species is not yet properly identified and commonly misnamed as Dencrocalamus "sericeus" (D. sericeus from India is actually a variety of D. strictus).

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Dinochloa malayana — ไผ่ดำเลื้อย (phai dam lueai) — Height 8-12 m, diameter 2 cm; clumper and climber, winding up trees, young shoots purplish-black. Easy growing, in light or deep shade, seems to prefer moist soil but might be adapted to seasonal drought. A good plant to add a wild-tropical ornamental feature to a garden with tall trees.

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Gigantochloa atroviolacea — ไผ่ดำอินโดนีเซีย (phai dam indonisia), ไผ่ดำชวา (phai dam chawa) — From Indonesia, height over 10 m, culms dull black with an occasional green stripe. Suitable as an ornamental garden plant.

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Gigantochloa balui — From southern Thailand, height 10-12 m, diameter 6-8 cm. Suitable as an ornamental garden plant.

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Gigantochloa densa — ไผ่ผาก (phai phak) — From southern Thailand.

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Gigantochloa hasskarliana — From Langkawi Island, Malaysia, height 8-12 m, diameter 3-6 cm.

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Gigantochloa kuring (?) — From Langkawi Island, Malaysia.

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Gigantochloa latifolia — From Langkawi Island, Malaysia, height 6-10 m, diameter 2-4 cm.

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Gigantochloa pseudoarundinacea, Gigantochloa verticillata — [479] [506] — From Indonesia. Culms striped.

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Gigantochloa ridleyi — From Singapore/Malaysia, height 16 m, diameter 10 cm. Suitable as an ornamental garden plant.

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Gigantochloa scortechinii (?), striped culms — [087] — From southern Thailand.

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Gigantochloa sp. — From China, plants raised from seeds. The seeds were received under different names. Possibly a species of Gigantochloa, and similar to G. apus. Attractive for landscaping.

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Gigantochloa sp. — [318] — Unidentified Gigantochloa species from southern Thailand.

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Gigantochloa sp., striped culms — from Kanchanaburi — [600] — A wild unidentified species, grows very tall (height not recorded) and upright, has striped culms from base to top (stripes yellow, basal stripes can be violet), and very large leaves, branching from base up.

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Gigantochloa sp., striped culms — [562] — Unidentified Gigantochloa species with nicely striped culms from southern Thailand. Culms may reach up to 10 m height or little more, bending or arching above. This bamboo may turn out to be salt-resistant to some extend as it grows close to the coast. A good ornamental garden plant.

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Gigantochloa sp., striped culms — [547] — Unidentified Gigantochloa species with nicely striped culms from Songkhla, southern Thailand. Culms over 10 m tall.

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Gigantochloa sp., striped culms and leaves — [635] — Unidentified Gigantochloa species with striped culms and leaves, from Trang, southern Thailand.

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Gigantochloa sp., striped culms and leaves — [601] — Unidentified Gigantochloa species of medium height with striped culms and leaves, from southern Thailand.

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Gigantochloa sp., striped leaves — [434] — Unidentified Gigantochloa species with striped leaves, said to originate from Thailand, known as "Bambusa suberecta". Height unknown, possibly low growing, culms bending.

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Gigantochloa wrayi 'Impian' — From the Malay Peninsula. Culms striped.

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Indosasa sinica — 中华大节竹 (zhōng huá dà jié zhú) — [765-1] — Runner, tall growing, from southern China. Plants used for landscaping.







Lingnania cerosissima, Bambusa cerosissima — 箪竹 (dān zhú) — [750-1] — From China, for landscaping.

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Lingnania chungii, Bambusa chungii — 粉箪竹 (fen dan zhu) — Emperor's Blue Bamboo — From southern China, height up to 18 m, usually somewhat lower, diameter up to 7 cm. Culms slightly ascending at base, internodes thickly covered with white powder which contributes to the bluish appearance. An outstanding ornamental plant for Tropics and Subtropics. — ไผ่จักรพรรดิ ชุงจี เป็นไผ่ทางตอนใต้ของประเทศจีน เป็นไผ่แบบเหง้ากอ มีความสูงได้ถึง 18 เมตร แต่ที่ทดลองปลูกที่บ้านแซมมี่และที่สวนตอนนี้สูงสุดประมาณ 8 -10 เมตร นับว่าความสูงพอดีสำหรับปลูกเพื่อประดับในบริเวณบ้านที่มีพื้นที่ไม่มาก หรือปลูกโชว์ประดับสวนในบ้าน โรงแรม รีสอร์ท ที่ประเทศจีนขนาดเส้นผ่าศูนย์กลางโตได้ถึง 7 ซม. มีขนที่ข้อปล้องดูสวยงามน่ารัก,ลำปล้องปกคลุมด้วยผงสีขาวหรือมีสีฟ้า เป็นไผ่ประดับสำหรับเขตร้อนและกึ่งเขตร้อน

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Lingnania chungii var. barbellata, Bambusa chungii var. barbellata — 水粉单竹 (shui fen dan zhu) — Barbie Bamboo — Same as Lingnania chungii, but smaller in ultimate culm size. One of the best tropical feature bamboos for smaller gardens. — ไผ่องค์ชายน้อย ชุงจี ลักษณะเหมือนกับไผ่จักรพรรดิ์ ชุงจี แต่ลำมีขนาดเล็กกว่า สูงประมาณ 6 เมตร เหมาะสำหรับจัดสวนเล็กๆ



Lingnania distegia, Bambusa distegia — 料慈竹 (liào cí zhú) — [706] — From China, for landscaping.

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Lingnania funghomii, Bambusa guangxiensis — From southern China, up to 5 m tall, for weaving, for low hedges and screens, suitable for topiary and as pot plant.

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Phyllostachys aurea — ไผ่เหลืองจีน (phai lueang chin) — For ornamental grove bamboo (runner) for warm-temperate zones, or higher altitudes in Thailand.

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Phyllostachys edulis, P. pubescens — 毛竹 (máo zhú) — ไผ่ขน (phai khon) — Moso Bamboo — From China, economically very important bamboo for shoot and timber production, for landscaping (runner, forming groves), not suitable for tropical lowlands.

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Phyllostachys makinoi — ไผ่มากินหน่อย (phai makinnoi) — Makino Bamboo — Introduced from Taiwan. Grove bamboo (runner) for warm-temperate zones, or higher altitudes in Thailand.

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Phyllostachys nigra f. nigra — ไผ่ดำจีน (phai dam chin) — Chinese Black Bamboo — Black-culm ornamental grove bamboo (runner) for warm-temperate zones, or higher altitudes in Thailand. Height 10 m, but lower in tropical climate.

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Pseudosasa (?) sp. — [364] — Runner, an unidentified species from Doi Inthanon (Thailand's highest mountain), about to 4 m tall, with medium-sized, dark green leaves.





Pseudosasa (?) sp. — ไผ่หลอด (phai lot) — [411] — Runner, an unidentified species from Loei, northeastern Thailand, about to 4 m tall, with medium-sized, dark green leaves. Possibly the same species as those from Doi Inthanon.

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Schizostachyum brachycladum 'Bali Kuning' — ไผ่ทอง (phai thong) — Height 10-12 m, diameter 5-8 cm; clumper; habit upright, lower part almost branchless, branches short, leaves large. An outstanding ornamental with yellow culms, usually with a few narrow green stripes, leaves occasionally with a narrow yellow stripe. Best as solitary, or alley; grows well in full sun on moist soil, or in partial shade. Culms used for craft and split-work.

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Schizostachyum brachycladum 'Ratchaphruek' — ไผ่เขียวอมร (phai khiao amon) — Ornamental bamboo with yellow-striped green culms, about 10 m tall; best as solitary; grows well in full sun on moist soil, or in partial shade.

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Schizostachyum funghomii — 沙罗单竹 (sha luo dan zhu) — From China, attractive bamboo with large leaves, young shoots black, plants for landscaping, best in partial shade. Height 13-18 m, diameter 5-8 cm.

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Schizostachyum grande — ไผ่ตากวาง (phai ta kwang), ไผ่เหมียง (phai miang) — Deer Eye Bamboo — From southern Thailand (Songkhla and Satun) up to 1,000 m altitude; height 12-20 m, diameter 7-12 cm, culms arching over in a wide bow, leaves very large; shoots delicious; culms said to be very durable under moist conditions, used as water pipes and roofing; plants for landscaping.

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Schizostachyum zollingeri — From southern Thailand, height 15-20 m, diameter 8-10 cm, arching; as a garden ornamental and for landscaping.

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Sinobambusa tootsik — [607] — Natural or naturalized in northern Thailand, runner, forming groves. Culm height 5-12 m, diameter 2-6 cm.

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Sinobambusa tootsik 'Suzukonarihira' — Leaves striped. Grown in northern Thailand, runner, forming groves.

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Thyrsostachys siamensis — ไผ่รวก (phai ruak), ไผ่รวกใหญ่ (phai ruak yai) — Monastery Bamboo — A tall growing variety: Height 12-13 m, or much taller (to 25 m was recorded), diameter 4-6(8) cm. Very dense clumper, habit stiffly upright, slightly bending above, no low branching, culm sheaths persistent on lower culm. Used for visual screen, hedge, wind-break, ornamental solitary or group; shoots edible; culms for light-weight construction, craft, tools and furniture-making. A common bamboo in Thailand, wild and often planted. Usually named Thyrsostachys oliveri, but there is currently no evidence that phai ruak yai represents this species.

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Thyrsostachys siamensis — ไผ่รวกเล็ก (phai ruak lek) — Little Monastery Bamboo — Smaller in height and diameter: Height to 7 m, average diameter 2.5 cm. Very dense clumper, habit upright, slightly bending above, no low branching, culm sheaths persistent on lower culm. Used for visual screen and hedge, ornamental solitary or group; shoots edible; culms for tools and furniture-making. Widespread in Thailand, wild and often planted.

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Thyrsostachys siamensis 'Wealthy Siamese' (เวลธีสยามอีส) — ไผ่รวกเศรษฐี (phai ruak setthi) — Culms striped.

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