Sharing know-how about UK gardening

Despite their foreign origins, bamboos are quite hardy in Britain, but because they dislike cold winds, make sure that you plant them in a sheltered spot. These plants prefer dappled shade too.

Very few bamboos have common names and many have been re-named over the years, which has led to confusion. Non-invasive types include Arundinaria (also called Pleistoblastus, or Auricoma) viridistriata that forms clumps to 1.2m high, with leaves brightly striped green and gold, and Shibataea kumasasa that grows with zig-zag stems up to 75cm high in a compact clump.