AT A GLANCE
Which plants are good alternatives to bamboo?
Is there any bamboo that does not form stolons?
The problem with many bamboo species is their strong formation of runners. These species develop numerous rhizomes via which, unless their growth is halted by locks in the first place, they spread dramatically. If that is your problem with bamboo, you can simply plant Fargesia species. Fargesia, like that Umbrella bamboo Fargesia rufa or Fargesia murielae,
- do not form any offshoots
- grow, depending on the variety, up to 300 centimeters high and very dense
- are hardy
- evergreen
- vigorous
- very well tolerated by cuts
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Therefore Fargesia bamboo is often used for bamboo hedges.
What alternatives are there to bamboo?
If you are looking for an alternative to bamboo, you could first look at other grasses. After all, bamboo is also a grass. Examples of possible types are
- Chinese reed (Miscanthus giganteus or sinensis): impressive growth, up to 300 centimeters high, for sunny locations, forms small runners
- Pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana): impressive, clumpy growth, flower spikes up to 250 centimeters high
- Tall moor grass (Molinia arundinacea): also giant moor grass, up to 200 centimeters high, clumpy growth with fine blades
All of the species mentioned are not evergreen, but only evergreen.
Are there also bamboo alternatives that are evergreen?
Instead of other grasses, you can of course also consider evergreen shrubs as an alternative. For example, would be conceivable
- Conifers such as yew, thuja, cypress
- cherry laurel
- liguster
- boxwood
- Evergreen honeysuckle
- rhododendron
- holly
- Evergreen barberry
The species mentioned are very suitable for hedges, but can also be planted singly or in small groups as a privacy screen. Please note that all plants have different needs in terms of location, soil and care. For example, while yew, boxwood and rhododendron are quite shade-tolerant, the evergreen honeysuckle belongs in a rather sunny to semi-shady location.
Which replacement plants grow particularly dense and tall?
On the other hand, if you are looking for particularly tall and densely growing alternatives to bamboo, you have a large selection of shrubs and perennials. Conceivable would be about
- ferns like male fern or royal fern
- high-growing flowering perennials like delphinium, phlox, astilbes, daisies, bee balm
- hydrangeas
- snowball
- wild woods like cornel, service pear, sloe, hawthorn, elder, Dogwood
- lilac
- hazelnut
- wicker
Here, too, the requirements of the individual species in terms of location and care differ greatly from one another. Which alternative you choose therefore also depends on the intended use: For a hedge, plants have to meet different conditions than, for example, for cultivation in the Bucket.
Tip
Taming bamboo with rhizome barrier
However, vigorously proliferating bamboo species can often be treated with a rhizome lock tame. To do this, plant the bamboo, for example, in a sufficiently large mason's pot or another sturdy option (preferably solid plastic, concrete or metal). Make sure that the rhizome barrier protrudes a little above ground so that the rhizomes do not seek this way.