Chinese Dwarf Bamboo

Chinese Dwarf Bamboo (Bambusa guangxiensis 'Chinese Dwarf') is the bamboo for people who have been warned about bamboo. It is a tight clumper that stays exactly where you plant it, growing to about 2.5m tall and 1.5m wide with soft, lush foliage held right to the ground. That size makes it the rare bamboo that screens a standard fence line perfectly, in the ground or in a pot.

Why you'll love it

• It cannot run. This is a true clumping species with a compact footprint, not a running bamboo, so there are no escapes under the fence and no barriers to install.
• Fence height, not tower height. At about 2.5m it gives complete privacy above a 1.8m fence without shading half the yard.
• Fast, dense screening. Like most bamboos it establishes quickly, thickening into a soft green wall within a couple of seasons.
• Pet friendly. The foliage is not toxic to cats or dogs, a genuine point of difference among screening plants.
• Happy confined. It performs in large pots and planters, which suits balconies, courtyards and rentals.

Where it works best

Screening and hedging. Plant 1m apart for a dense low screen along a boundary. The culms stay slender and the foliage fills from ground level, so there is no bare leggy base to disguise.

Pots, balconies and courtyards. A row of large containers makes an instant moveable screen, and the soft texture reads well up close where people sit.

Poolside. It brings the resort look without invasive roots, and the leaves it does drop are small and easily netted.

Growing Chinese Dwarf Bamboo in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade. It thrives in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate climates, shrugging off heat, humidity and wind. It takes light frost only, so in colder districts grow it in a pot in a sheltered spot rather than in open ground.

Soil. Rich, moist, well drained soil gets the best from it. In containers use a premium potting mix and a pot at least 500mm wide, repotting or dividing every few years as the clump fills it.

Water and feed. Bamboo grows on water and nitrogen. Soak deeply twice a week in warm weather, more often in pots, and feed each spring and mid summer; a lawn fertiliser does the job well.

Pruning. Little is needed. Thin the oldest culms at ground level every year or two to keep the clump fresh, and trim for height once new culms have fully leafed out if you want it lower.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Chinese Dwarf Bamboo as 300mm pots, 200mm pots in packs of 6 for screen runs, and advanced 45L and 100L plants. A pack of six covers a 6m fence at the recommended 1m spacing. Smaller sizes look sparse on arrival compared with the finished screen, which is normal for bamboo: the transformation happens with each warm season's new shoots. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Bamboo for screening: fast, lush privacy
• Slender Weavers Bamboo, for screens up to 8m
• Browse the full bamboo range
• More plants safe for pets

Common questions

Will it spread through my garden?

No. It is a tight clumping bamboo whose base expands slowly to about 1.5m wide and stops. It does not send out runners, so it needs no root barrier.

Is it safe for dogs and cats?

Yes. Bamboo foliage is not toxic to cats or dogs, and this variety keeps its leaves low where pets brush past without any concern.

What size pot does it need?

At least 500mm wide and deep for long term growing. The bigger the pot, the taller and lusher the screen, and daily water in summer is the price of container bamboo.

Can I keep it shorter than 2.5m?

Yes. Once each season's new culms have leafed out, trim them to your preferred height and they hold there until the next flush.