Bamboo Growth Habit: Clumping vs Running
Clumping Bamboo
Clumping Bamboo
Clumping Bamboo
Clumping bamboo is non-invasive because the rhizomes grow predictably and can easily by trimmed back if needed. Clumping bamboo maintains a central clump and slowly spreads away from the center no more than a couple inches to a foot from the previous year's growth.
Running Bamboo
Clumping Bamboo
Clumping Bamboo
Running bamboo is invasive and should only be planted within a deep rhizome barrier to contain the unpredictable growth habit of the rhizomes. Planting running bamboo without a barrier will allow it to spread underground many feet away in all directions before sending up new culms.
Bamboo Appearance: Clumping vs Running
Clumping Bamboo
Clumping Bamboo
Clumping Bamboo
Appearance of clumping bamboo with no containment needed. These bamboo rhizomes spread, closely and predictably each season, from the center of the planting.
Running Bamboo
Clumping Bamboo
Clumping Bamboo
Appearance of a running bamboo grove contained with a 30-inch deep bamboo rhizome barrier. Without containment, the running bamboo rhizomes would have spread underground unpredictably, many feet away from this planting, in every direction.