There are three native bamboos in the U.S. See the Arundinaria gigantea, switch cane, for more information. Other bamboos are non-native. Some have escaped into the wild and are being managed in state parks and elsewhere.

Bamboo can spread quickly by underground rhizomes and may suddenly appear many yards away from the main stand.

Phyllostachys meyeri

Not Present in Florida

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Bambusa species

Non-Native in Florida

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Pseudosasa japonica

Non-Native in Florida

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Bamboo stems grew very quickly in this backyard. Many stems grew as much as 16 inches per day during one week in March 2005.

 

Bambusa # 1 grew 16" per day during a 7-day period

March 22 60" tall	March 24 108" tall	March 27 148" tall	March 29 172" tall

Bambusa # 2 grew 15" per day during a 7-day period

March 22 120" tall	March 24 162" tall	March 27 198" tall	March 29 224" tall

 

Read the EDIS publication, Bamboo Control, by Jason Ferrell, Mark Czarnota, and Ken Langeland.

View the herbarium specimen image of the University of Florida Herbarium Digital Imaging Projects.