Want to create a private outdoor space with a lush, tropical feel? If you’re looking for a natural way to create privacy in your outdoor space, bamboo plants may be the perfect solution. With their tall, dense growth and lush foliage, bamboo can provide a beautiful and effective screen for your yard or patio. Check out our top 15 picks for the best bamboo plants for screening and privacy, and add a touch of tropical style to your outdoor oasis.
Spoiler alert: we recommend Bisset and Golden Hedge bamboos as the best bamboo plants for screening and privacy. Check out the top 15 bamboo plants for screening and privacy below! There’s a really handy summary for you at the end of the article.
If you are looking for an easy-care, fast growing screening plant that will grow in almost any climate zone, bamboo has to be at the top of your list. In fact, it is one of the fastest growing plants in the world. Though usually considered a tropical climate plant, bamboo will surprise you demonstrating extreme hardiness. Temperatures down to -10 oF / -23 oC are tolerated by some varieties.
Within weeks of planting your bamboo hedge it will be putting out new shoots and in no time at all you’ll have a wall of dense foliage. Fast forward 2-3 years and your bamboo privacy screen is fully grown.
How to choose the best bamboo
There are so many different types of bamboo that are suitable for screening and evergreen hedges that it’s easiest to start by narrowing down the list. Bamboo is generally divided into two categories; non-invasive clumping bamboo and running bamboo.
Running bamboo is the invasive type that gives bamboo a bad name. It’s the one that leaves people cursing because it has spread throughout their garden and they can’t get rid of it. This is an easy option to eliminate as it just isn’t a good option for most gardens. The only time you want to use this type of bamboo is if it has a root barrier such as a pot or special underground concrete bamboo rhizome barrier. If you really have your heart set on a running bamboo there are ways to prevent it getting out of hand, but it takes extra time, effort and expense.
Clumping bamboo on the other hand is a non-invasive variety, making it a great choice for most gardens. It spreads, but in a controlled and uniform manner with a reasonably contained root ball. Because it develops clumps instead of runners, it has a denser habit so is much better suited to screening and privacy applications.
Site requirements
The width of the garden bed (or space if you are using containers) is the most important factor to achieve a full screen effect. A dense bamboo can achieve good screening in a narrower space. The narrowest you can go is about 40cm/16 inches. Less compact varieties will need a wide space of up to 1-1.5 m/3-5 ft to achieve the desired density for a privacy fence.
Next work out the height the bamboo needs to achieve for screening and privacy. Bamboo is generally going to be taller than you need so you may need to trim taller bamboos to the desired height. Alternatively, there are dwarf varieties available that might be just the height you need.
Water, light and cold tolerance are your next factors to consider. Most species of bamboo will perform best when given lots of sun and some protection from strong winds. Some varieties however, will tolerate more shade. If you want a colored bamboo it will perform best in a sunny location. The Fargesia varieties of bamboo are generally more cold tolerant that the Bambusa and other varieties.
Almost all will tolerate periods of dryness when established, but not all will tolerate wet soils. If this is a challenge at your site then Red Margin bamboo (Phyllostachys rubromarginata ‘Red Margin’) or Bisset bamboo (Phyllostachys bissetii) might be the right bamboo for you.
Finally, you get to the fun part; how your bamboo should look. Did you know that it comes in shades from white to pale pink, yellow, orange, red, blue and even black? Foliage can be plain or variegated and the canes or culms can have vertical or horizontal stripes.
Now you get to choose. Our list below isn’t in any particular order because the best bamboo for you depends on the requirements we have just discussed. Almost all of these bamboo varieties are clumping bamboo, so you don’t need to worry about it taking over. Don’t forget, there’s a handy summary at the end of the page.
The 15 best types of bamboo for hedges, screens and privacy are:
Slender Weavers Bamboo
Gracilis/ Slender weavers bamboo (Bambusa textilis var. gracilis) will grow in narrow spaces of just 16 inches wide or can spread to 5 feet wide. At up to 25 ft high when grown in the right conditions this is one of the most versatile bamboo varieties. There’s little wonder it is one of the most popular available.
Goldstripe Bamboo
Goldstripe bamboo (Bambusa multiplex ‘Goldstripe’) is another of the bamboo varieties that can squeeze into a narrow 16 in (40 cm) space. However, to get the best from it a 3 ft (1 m) garden bed is best. You’ll want to trim the lower branches off this one to reveal the stunning golden stripes on the green canes.
Golden Goddess Bamboo
Golden Goddess bamboo (Bambusa multiplex ‘Golden goddess’) is one of the most popular hedging bamboos in the USA. It needs full sun and a reasonable amount of water, therefore isn’t suited to dry climates. Nor is it suited to wet soils. Canes are one the thinnest of all bamboos listed here.
Chinese Dwarf Bamboo
Chinese Dwarf bamboo (Bambusa guangxiensis) excels when trimmed to around 8 ft / 2.5 m but left untrimmed will extend to 20 ft / 6 m. It has a very lush and bushy appearance with lots of dark green foliage.
Umbrella Bamboo
Umbrella bamboo (Fargesia murielae) has a lighter green foliage that can have a yellow tinge to it. It is disease and deer resistant but it doesn’t like dryness, preferring moist or wet soils.
Golden Hedge Bamboo
Golden Hedge bamboo (Bambusa multiplex ‘Alphonse Karr’) features bright golden canes with thin vertical green stripes and dark green leaves. It has a dense growth habit and will glow in all its glory in just three years if given lots of sun.
Asian Wonder Bamboo
Asian Wonder bamboo (Fargesia Scabrida ‘Asian Wonder’) is a narrow leaved bamboo variety. New growth starts off purple and then ages to olive green with orange culm sheaths. It likes to grow into quite a wide clump given it’s shorter height and is suited to part-sun or shade.
Tropical Blue Bamboo
Tropical Blue bamboo (Bambusa chungii) is also known as Blue Timber bamboo and its smaller form, Baby Blue bamboo (Bambusa chungii barbelleta). This is a similar size to Seabreeze but is less dense. New growth has a white powder on the canes that create a gorgeous light blue hue.
Campbell Bamboo
Campbell bamboo (Fargesia robusta ‘Campbell’) has small leaves and forms tight clumps making it suitable for containers as well as permanent plantings. It is dark green all over but culm sheaths age to white. Tolerates wind better than some of the other varieties.
Buddha’s Belly Bamboo
Buddha’s belly (Bambusa ventricosa) grows little bulging bellies above each node when stressed. The combined effect of this gives each cane a ribbed effect. It grows to a maximum height of 55 ft or 18 m. A Dwarf form is available if the towering height is too much for your site. This is a very accommodating bamboo that can tolerate periods of wet and dry soils. You’ll love its tiny bright green leaves almost as much as its belly bulge.
Bissett Bamboo
Bisset bamboo (Phyllostachys bissetii) is an extremely hardy bamboo that will grow in USDA zones 5a-10. It has a lovely dark green cane and foliage that will form a dense screen and reach full height in four years. Canes that get full sun can mature to a pale golden shade. Bisset bamboo is the best choice for cold climates. It can handle temperatures as low as -15 oF or with a little extra root protection from thick mulch can go to -25 oF. A dwarf form that grows to 18 ft / 5.5 m is available.
Giant Timber Bamboo
Giant timber bamboo (Bambusa oldhamii) is truly a giant, growing up to 60 feet tall with canes that are up to 5 in in diameter. It is not as dense as other varieties with narrower canes yet still makes a beautiful hedge or screen. This is a good choice if you’d like extra ambiance from the sounds of the canes creaking and clacking as they sway in the breeze. It will achieve most of its height in the first three years with growth beyond that point being thickening of canes.
Tropical Black Bamboo
Tropical Black bamboo (Bambusa lako) also known as Timor Black bamboo is the ideal alternative to the popular running black bamboo Phyllostachys nigra. It is a tropical or temperate bamboo so isn’t as cold hardy as some other varieties but if you provide good protection for the roots with thick mulch new shoots will emerge each spring.
Seabreeze Bamboo
Seabreeze bamboo (Bambusa malingensis) is fast to establish and has a very dense and upright growth habit. Canes and foliage are green with nodes that have a tinge of blue-white. It grows up to 40 ft / 12 m high, making this bamboo a highly effective wind break.
Dragon’s Head Bamboo
Dragon’s Head bamboo (Fargesia dracocephala) will give you a bushy looking screen rather than a narrow upright one. This bamboo has a weeping rather than upright habit so needs some room to spread. It doesn’t like direct sun or heat so is best for morning sun or part shade in cool to mild climates.
The 15 best
Bamboo plants for screening and privacy
Quick and easy summary.
| Name | Height | Cane diameter | Min temp | Best for… |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gracilis / Slender weavers – Bambusa textilis var. gracilis | 18-25 ft 5.5-7.5 m | 1 1/4 in 3 cm | 10 oF -12 oC | Fast growth. |
| Goldstripe – Bambusa multiplex ‘Goldstripe’ | 16-20 ft 5-6 m | 1 in 2.5 cm | 10 oF -12 oC | Pots and troughs. |
| Umbrella bamboo – Fargesa murielae | 10-15 ft 3-4.5 m | 1 in 2.5 cm | -4 oF -20 oC | Part shade and tolerates weight of snow. |
| Chinese Dwarf Bamboo Bambusa guangxiensis | 13-20 ft 4-6 m | 1 1/4 in 3 cm | 24 oF -4 oC | Dense foliage hedge. |
| Golden Goddess – Bambusa multiplex ‘Golden Goddess’ | 6-10 ft 2-3 m | 1/2 in 1.3 cm | 15 oF -10 oC | Gold-green foliage hedge. |
| Golden Hedge bamboo – Bambusa multiplex ‘Alphonse Karr’ | 15-30 ft 4.5-9 m | 1 1/2 in 3.5 cm | 18 oF -7 oC | Golden culms with thin green vertical stripes. |
| Tropical Black bamboo – Bambusa lako | 30-45 ft 9-14 m | 2-3 in 5-7.5 cm | 28 oF -2 oC | Non-invasive alternative to Phyllostachys nigra. |
| Bisset Bamboo – Phyllostachys bissetii | 40 ft | 2 in 5 cm | -10 oF -23 oC | Super tough when it comes to wind, cold and drought. |
| Seabreeze bamboo Bambusa malingensis ‘Seabreeze’ | 30 ft 9 m | 2 in 5 cm | 18 oF -7 oC | Tightly packed upright canes to form a windbreak. |
| Red-stemmed bamboo Fargesia scabrida ‘Asian Wonder’ | 10-13 ft 3-4 m | 3/4 in 2 cm | -4 oF -20 oC | Purple new growth. |
| Campbell bamboo – Fargesia robusta ‘Campbell’ | 10-15 ft 3-4 m | 1 in 2.5 cm | -4 oF -20 oC | Dark olive canes with white culm sheaths. |
| Dragon’s Head bamboo – Fargesia dracocephala | 8-13 ft 2.5-4 m | 1/2 in 1.3 cm | -10 oF -23 oC | Locations with mild summer temperatures. |
| Tropical Blue bamboo – Bambusa chungii | 30-35 ft 9-10.5 m | 2 in 5 cm | 21 oF -6 oC | Long variegated leaves and slender canes. |
| Buddha Belly – Bambusa tuldoides ventricosa | 55 ft 16 m | 3 in 7.5 cm | 18 oF -7 oC | Bulging internodes. Both drought and wet tolerant. |
| Giant timber bamboo – Bambusa oldhamii | 50-60 ft 15-18 m | 4-5 in 10-15 cm | 21 oF -6 oC | Thick vertical canes. |
Growing guide for bamboo
An evergreen perennial, bamboo is technically just a really big grass. Just like with your lawn, if you want thick growth you need to feed it, and yes a lawn food will do just fine. Once it is established (after the first year) it doesn’t need much attention other than some regular water. It will appreciate some lawn food once or twice a year and treat it to a big drink from a soaker hose during dry periods.
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