Dendrocalamus Minor Amoenus

Ghost Bamboo (Dendrocalamus minor var. amoenus) is a clumping bamboo that reaches about 8m tall in a footprint only 3m across, with pale chalky culms striped in green. It is fast growing and non running, so it screens a two storey outlook without sending shoots under the paving or into a neighbour's yard. Planted 1.5m apart it closes into a dense, moving green wall.

Why you'll love it

• Clumping, not running. The roots stay in a tight clump, so it is safe to plant near paving, pipes and boundaries where running bamboos cause real damage.
• Height fast, width contained. About 8m tall in a 3m wide clump, which is the shape most people want on a narrow side boundary.
• Culms worth looking at. The pale, almost white culms with fine green striping make it a feature, not just a screen.
• Tough and pet friendly. Wind, heat and humidity tolerant, and listed as pet friendly, so it suits exposed yards with dogs in them.

Where it works best

Screening and privacy. Plant 1.5m apart for a dense screen. In a single row along a fence that gives a solid green wall well above roof height while the clumps stay clear of the boundary.

Windbreak. Bamboo filters wind rather than blocking it, which is what an exposed block needs. A staggered double row at 1.5m spacing works better than a solid barrier.

Feature planting. A single clump in a courtyard or against a rendered wall shows the culms off, and the movement and rustle is something no other screening plant offers.

Growing Ghost Bamboo in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun for the strongest culms, part shade tolerated. It suits tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens, comfortable in heat, humidity and wind. It takes light frost only, so cold southern and tableland gardens burn the foliage and check its growth.

Soil. Rich, well drained soil with plenty of organic matter dug through a wide hole. Mulch heavily, 75mm deep and clear of the culms, since bamboo feeds off a decomposing mulch layer.

Water and feed. Bamboo is thirsty while establishing: deep soak twice a week through the first two summers. Feed a high nitrogen or lawn fertiliser in early spring and again in midsummer, which drives the tall new culms.

Pruning. Thin the oldest culms at ground level once a year to keep the clump open. Strip the lower branches for a clean look, and top the culms at the height you want.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in 200mm pots sold in packs of six, 250mm pots in packs of three, and single 300mm and 400mm pots. The 300mm and 400mm plants carry the most height on arrival, while the multi packs are the sensible way to buy a full boundary run.

Some leaf curl and leaf drop after transit is normal for bamboo. New culms emerge in the warm months, each season taller and thicker than the last, so the screen builds over three to four years. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery, and every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• The complete guide to screening with bamboo
• Compare bamboo varieties for screening
• Other tall and narrow screening plants
• Plants that make a good windbreak

Common questions

Will it spread through my garden?

No. This is a clumping bamboo with non-invasive roots, so it expands slowly outwards from the original clump rather than running. No root barrier is needed.

How far apart should I plant it for a screen?

Space plants 1.5m apart. Any closer and the clumps compete for water and light, which leaves the screen thin at the base rather than closing it faster.

Can I keep it lower than 8m?

Yes. Topping the culms at the height you want holds the screen there, and thinning the oldest culms each year keeps it looking deliberate rather than hacked.