Bamboo for Zone 5-6 Michigan

[Mary]

I'm trying to figure out what bamboo grows best for a barrier in Northwest Michigan. We are about 1 mile from Lake Michigan.

[CadyG]

You have lots of choices, but do you want running or clumping bamboo? Is the barrier for privacy (a screen), a windbreak or a physical barrier (such as to keep people/animals out or in)? Phyllostachys bissetii makes a good barrier for all of those, IME. It can take cold and wind better than a lot of other hardy bamboos.
If you want just a privacy screen, P. nuda and P. aureosulcata are good, and they make an attractive stand. In your climate, they should grow from 12' to 25' high. They all are running 'boo, so if you need them to stay "inside the lines," you'll need to trench and/or mow to keep it under control.

If clumping bamboo is preferable and height isn't important, Fargesia denudata 'Rufa' makes a nice, low-growing barrier. It grows fairly quickly, makes a "haystack" about 6-7' tall and is very dense. If you plant a staggered row (zigzag rather than a straight line) of them, they'll make a barrier that is just about impenetrable. In the winter it makes a nice evergreen border.

Whatever you end up using, I advise buying the largest size plants you can afford so the barrier forms faster.

[DCBa]

I'll chime in and also suggest bissetii. It was topkilled during the 08/09 winter and came back very thick. Most of this is about 5 feet tall.


View from other side of the bed.


The bissetii at my previous home regularly grows to 12 feet tall, but it is in a better protected spot.

David B

[stonecrabber]

I'll second the P. aureosulcata.
Mine would hit 15' in the open and a few feet higher when
grown in a different location with some protection.
I used to live in the Enchanted Mitten.