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The 7 Best Bamboo Ornamental Plants to Grow

By Calin Oancea

4/12/20245 min read

Bamboo ornamental plants are amazing leafy plants popular for both indoor and outdoor gardening. These outstanding ornamental bamboo varieties offer a range of sizes, colors, and growth habits that are way better than the normal varieties.

In this article, we will explore 6 of the best bamboo ornamental varieties and each color, style, and beauty to enhance gardens and indoor spaces.

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a leafy Bamboo plant as an ornamental
a leafy Bamboo plant as an ornamental

Golden Bamboo

Golden Bamboo reaches heights of 3-4 m (10-13 ft) and has striking golden-yellow canes and dense growth. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers moist, well-drained soil.

We tried this bamboo and found that it is ideal for creating natural privacy screens, this ornamental bamboo variety is also a popular fast-growing shrub like most Bamboo varieties. Be aware that one of the problems with Bamboo plants is that they can be Invasive.

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Black Bamboo with green leaves growing in a garden
Black Bamboo with green leaves growing in a garden

Black Bamboo

Black Bamboo grows up to 5-8 m (16-26 ft) and has unique, dark-colored canes that mature from green to a deep black. It prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. This ornamental plant is perfect for adding a dramatic touch to landscapes and works well as a standalone plant or in grouped plantings.

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tall ornamental Bamboo with small leaves and thin stems
tall ornamental Bamboo with small leaves and thin stems

Himalayan Weeping Bamboo

This ornamental bamboo is perfect for creating a serene, Asian-inspired garden or as an elegant feature in a shaded corner of the landscape. Himalayan Weeping Bamboo is growing to about 3-4 m (10-13 ft) tall and features thin canes and green leafy foliage. When planting and growing Bamboo you need to provide it with partial shade and moist, well-drained soil.

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Buddha Belly Bamboo with thicker stems
Buddha Belly Bamboo with thicker stems

Buddha Belly Bamboo

Buddha Belly Bamboo, growing to about 4-6 m (13-20 ft), is unique for its bulging, "belly-like" canes. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil. This bamboo is perfect for adding an exotic touch to gardens and is also popular as a potted plant for patios or indoor spaces.

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an Arrow Bamboo ornamental Plant with a leafy foliage
an Arrow Bamboo ornamental Plant with a leafy foliage

Arrow Bamboo

Arrow Bamboo, reaching about 3-4 m (10-13 ft), is known for its upright growth and broad, dark green leaves. It thrives in partial shade and moist, well-drained soil, similar to a lot of other Bamboo species which makes it an excellent choice for creating dense screens or hedges. This variety is also suitable for container gardening, adding a touch of elegance to patios and balconies or as an ornamental bush.

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multiple Blue Bamboo Steams with a few leafes
multiple Blue Bamboo Steams with a few leafes

Blue Bamboo

Blue Bamboo, reaching up to 3-6 m (10-20 ft), is prized for its striking blue canes and delicate foliage. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. This ornamental bamboo adds a unique color contrast to vegetative spaces and is perfect as a plant for Japanese gardens, for creating a focal point or as part of a mixed border.

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a Chinese Dwarf Bamboo ornamental plant
a Chinese Dwarf Bamboo ornamental plant

Chinese Dwarf Bamboo

Chinese dwarf bamboo (Pleioblastus fortunei) is a fast-growing, evergreen grass characterized by its variegated leaves with cream-white and green stripes. This compact species, typically reaching heights of 0,9m - 1,5m (3 - 5 ft), is commonly used in landscaping for ground cover, privacy screens, or as a decorative element in gardens.

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Sources

Nature and Sustainability uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, and other fact-dense and highly trusted sources to support the facts that we use in our articles. Please read our editorial policy to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. 

  1. Golden Bamboo: Golden bamboo - Wikipedia

  2. Black Bamboo: Phyllostachys nigra - Wikipedia

  3. Buddha Belly Bamboo: How to Grow and Care for Buddha Belly Bamboo (thespruce.com)

  4. Blue Bamboo: Bambusa chungii 'Barbelletta' (Blue Bamboo) (gardenia.net)

  5. Arrow Bamboo: Pseudosasa japonica - Wikipedia

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Calin Oancea
Calin Oancea
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Calin has been in the garden industry for 5 years and knows much about gardening and plants. He owns this website and is responsible for most of the content.