I am knew to the bamboo world. I live in VA, Zone 7. Looking for ideas for bamboo to plant over 60 foot length stretch w about 3-4 feet width, 15-20 feet high. Look for interesting, colorful (maybe changing w time of year, etc.), upright, clumping bamboo as a screen - something more natural and not like hedges. Don't want to make the mistake of planting something I regret later.

Probably asking for too much but would appreciate ideas. Thanks!!!

You will not be able to grow subtropical clumping bamboos (Bambusa spp.) in your area. I do not think you will be able to grow the clumping mountain bamboos very successfully either, but I hope someone with more knowledge of those plants will chime in here.

You could possibly achieve what you describe with mixed running bamboos, but since you said that you want clumpers, I will not go into that right now.

A running bamboo would work, you would want to install with a barrier if you want to keep it in that narrow strip. One of the most decorative choices that would fill the bill and be easy to grow would be Phyllostachys aureosulcata 'spectabilis'.

Thanks! You are the second person mentioning this species. Now I have to figure out a means to contain these. Purchase a container, use plastic, plus manual checks???

They have several bamboo species at the National Arboretum, if you wanted to see what they look like in person. I think some of them are clumpers.

I would recommend a plastic rhizome barrier. It is easily installed with chain trencher. 30" barrier with 2 inches above ground is usually sufficient for p aureosulcata. 80 mil thickness is good.

You want the root zone to be as big as possible so the stand has room to grow and thrive. That is why smaller containers do not work so well, they become root bound quickly.

http://www.rhizomebarrier.com/

The above post is 100% right.

The following will tell you what you need to know. Rhizome barrier installation is the kind of project that really needs to be done right the first time. Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to use an open sided barrier, which will save you some money on the installation.
http://www.bamboogarden.com/barrier%20installation.htm

Thanks all for great ideas! I will visit the Arboretum. Re Phyllostachys aureosulcata 'spectabilis', they say it grows to a max of 25 ft. Is that true even in northern zones? I'm zone 7.

Mine in zone 5b/6a reached that size by around 2" diameter.

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Brad Salmon, zone 9 Esparto, CA
www.needmorebamboo.com

Check out b. Fargesia at http://www.bamboogarden.com/Fargesia%20robusta.html
I grow Hardy clumping bamboo in zone 5

My experience with F robusta is it is killed to ground around 0*F, and never recovers that well. I have had some very nice, large plants reduced to ring of survival shoots around original wither killed plant with a single 0*F or slightly sub zero event.

'Campell" may be a little hardier than some of the other varieties, but not that much hardier. The link above lists it to zone 7, which is about right, though zone 7 can still get the fatal freeze now and then, and it only takes one very cold, windy night.

dp - Your info on Campbell is spot on. I've seen a few burnt leaves around +5F in Zone 7b so it's definitely touch and go.

john

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johnw coastal Nova Scotia

That is a species that actually appreciates some cool winter weather. It will grow much better for you than it would for me! This is true for all of the P. aureosulcata varieties. You can also mix them, if you like. I prefer to mix clones, just in case one clone flowers and dies.

A couple people have mentioned mountain bamboos. I know some of them can tolerate a little heat, but when I was in Arlington, VA in August, it felt pretty similar to Texas in August. Before you invest much time or money in any mountain bamboos, make sure someone in your area can show you some established plants, just to verify that they will work for you.