Baby Panda Bamboo

Baby Panda Bamboo (Pogonatherum paniceum) gives you the look of miniature bamboo without any of the reasons people fear bamboo. It forms a soft arching clump about 50cm tall and 50cm across, with fine bright green leaves on slender jointed canes. Despite the name it is a clumping ornamental grass rather than a true bamboo, so the roots stay put.

Why you'll love it

• Bamboo character, no running roots. The root system is non-invasive and clump forming, so you can plant it beside paving or a shared fence without a barrier.
• It stays genuinely small. Roughly 50cm tall and wide, and slow growing, so it holds its shape in a pot for years.
• Safe around pets. Not toxic to cats or dogs, worth knowing for a grassy plant that dogs sometimes chew.
• Indoors or out. One of the few fine textured grasses that genuinely performs as an indoor plant in good light.

Where it works best

Low borders and edging. Plant 40cm apart for a soft low border along a path or the front of a bed. At that spacing the clumps meet without merging, so the arching shapes stay readable.

Pots, balconies and courtyards. A pot 250mm to 300mm wide holds a full clump. It suits the shaded, sheltered conditions of a balcony, and grouped in threes it screens at bench height.

Indoors and mass planting. In a bright room out of direct sun it works long term. Massed at 40cm centres under trees it gives a light grassy underplanting.

Growing Baby Panda Bamboo in Australia

Position and climate. Partial shade or bright indirect light suits it best; harsh afternoon sun scorches the leaf tips. It grows outdoors in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens and handles heat and humidity. It is frost tender, so cool temperate and frosting districts need it as a potted or indoor plant.

Soil. Ordinary good quality potting mix or garden soil with compost through it. Drainage should be free, but this is not a plant that wants a lean gritty mix.

Water and feed. This is where most plants are lost. It has no real drought tolerance, so the mix should stay evenly damp. Water two or three times a week in summer, less in winter, and feed a liquid fertiliser monthly through the warm months.

Pruning. Shear the whole clump back to about 10cm in early spring every second or third year to clear out old canes, and it will reshoot quickly.

What to expect when it arrives

It comes in two sizes: tube stock, and 140mm plants in packs of ten. Tube stock is young, a small tuft of a few canes, and is the value choice for a border run or mass planting. The 140mm plants arrive as established clumps and look right in a decorative pot straight away.

Fine grassy foliage can look tired after transit, and some leaf tip browning is normal. Water it in well and keep it damp and shaded for a fortnight. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read about using bamboo and bamboo look plants at home.
• Compare ornamental grasses and strappy leaf plants.
• Browse our pet safe plant range.
• See what suits balconies and small outdoor spaces.

Common questions

Will it spread like running bamboo?

No. It is a clumping grass, not a true bamboo, and the roots are non-invasive. A plant slowly widens its own clump and stays where you put it, so no root barrier is needed.

Why are the leaf tips going brown?

Almost always the mix drying out, or hot direct sun. Keep the soil evenly damp and move it out of harsh afternoon sun. Trim the browned tips and new growth comes through clean.

Is it safe for dogs and cats?

Yes, it is not toxic to cats or dogs. Dogs that chew grass may still pull at the clump, so a raised pot is the practical answer.