Clump forming bamboo plants
Bamboo are architectural plants perfect for adding structure, height and movement to your garden. Their highly ornamental canes and lush evergreen foliage has a distinct Japanese feel and there are varieties suitable for uses ranging from hedging to mixed border plants and centre pieces. Clump forming bamboo plants have a root mass like normal ornamental grasses, spreading gradually out from the centre and never springing up canes more than 5-10cm from the existing plant. They grow to less than 5 metres (15 feet, often much less) tall because of their small, delicate culms. They will grow equally as wide over time if left to their own devices. The new canes of clump forming bamboos can grow up to 30-45cm (1-2 feet) taller each year until the plant reaches its eventual height.
Whilst there are cold hardy as well as tropical varieties of clump forming bamboo, in general they tend to be a more susceptible to the cold than running bamboo. Expect to have to provide frost protection in the depths of the winter, particularly if you'll be growing them in a container without the benefit of masses of surrounding soil for insulation. A good choice for containerised clumping bamboos is to bring them into a frost free area such as a garage or outbuilding when frost is forecast. Ideal for using as specimens in lawns, mixed border planting or even containers. Container grown plants will normally grow happily for up to 5 years before you'll need to refresh the compost and divide or consider a larger pot. Less favoured as hedging plants because of their narrower base and arching stems, which makes them wide at the top with gaps at the base.