Timor Black Bamboo

Timor Black Bamboo (Bambusa lako) is the screening bamboo you plant when you want drama as well as privacy. In mainland Australian gardens it reaches around 12m tall with a clump about 3m wide, the glossy black canes rising through lush green foliage. It is a true clumper, not a runner, so all that height stays exactly where you planted it.

Why you'll love it

• Glossy black canes. New culms emerge green and polish up to a deep lacquered black, so the screen looks as good from your side as it is private.
• Clumping, not running. The clump expands slowly at its base rather than sending runners under fences, the fear that puts people off bamboo.
• Serious height, narrow footprint. Around 12m tall from a 3m clump, it screens a two storey neighbour where a hedge would take a decade.
• Fast when you need it. New culms reach their full height within a season, so privacy improves in leaps rather than centimetres.
• Safe around pets. It is not toxic to cats or dogs, so it suits family backyards.

Where it works best

Screening and privacy. Plant 1.5m apart for a tall dense screen. Three plants cover most boundary sightlines; a longer run at the same spacing walls off a whole side of the block.

Poolside planting. The upright habit keeps canes clear of the water, though like all bamboo it sheds some leaf litter, so allow for skimming.

Windbreaks and features. The canes flex rather than snap in wind, and a single clump against a rendered wall, uplit at night, is as architectural as planting gets.

Growing Timor Black Bamboo in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to light shade in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens; in the tropics allow for more than 12m. It is frost tender: young plants burn, so cold inland and southern gardens should look elsewhere or shelter it against a warm wall.

Soil. Rich, moist and well drained. Dig compost through the planting area and mulch generously; bamboo feeds close to the surface and rewards the effort.

Water and feed. Water deeply two or three times a week through the first two summers. Established clumps still appreciate summer water, and a nitrogen rich fertiliser each spring drives strong new culms.

Pruning. Thin the oldest canes at ground level every year or two to keep the clump open and show off the black. It can also be topped to hold a lower screen.

What to expect when it arrives

Our standard size is a 400mm pot, an established clump ready to plant and already showing cane colour. Larger 100L and 400L specimens are supplied on backorder for buyers who need an instant screen. New plantings sit quietly for a few weeks, then push fresh culms, each season's shoots taller than the last.

Plants are packed to travel upright and delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Bamboo for screening: fast, lush privacy
• Browse the full bamboo range
• Tall and narrow screening plants
• Plants for poolside gardens

Common questions

Will it spread into my neighbour's yard?

No. Bambusa lako is a clumping bamboo, expanding slowly from the base rather than running underground. The clump edge creeps outward over years, not metres per season, and is easy to trim with a spade.

How fast will it screen a two storey house?

Quickly, by screening standards. From 400mm stock in warm climates, expect useful privacy within two to three seasons as each year's culms overtop the last. The 100L and 400L sizes shorten that wait considerably.

Can I keep it shorter than 12m?

Yes. Top the canes at the height you want and remove any culm that gets too ambitious at ground level. Bamboo does not resent hard cutting the way trees do.

Does it handle frost?

Not well. Light frost marks the foliage and hard frost can kill young plants. It belongs in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens; in marginal areas plant after the last frost in a sheltered spot.