Verigated Malay Dwarf Bamboo

Variegated Malay Dwarf Bamboo (Bambusa heterostachya 'Variegated') screens to about 5m without running anywhere it was not planted. The canes are striped cream and green, the clump holds to roughly 2.5m across, and planted 1.5m apart it closes into a soft moving screen faster than any hedging shrub manages. It is a clumping bamboo, so there are no runners to chase.

Why you'll love it

• Clumping, not running. The rhizomes stay tight to the base, so it will not travel under a fence into the neighbour's lawn.
• Screening height quickly. Once the clump is established, new canes come up close to full height in a single warm season.
• Variegated canes and leaves. Cream and green striping gives it more interest than a plain green bamboo, particularly against a dark fence.
• Built for exposed sites. Wind tolerant, salt tolerant and comfortable in humidity, so a coastal boundary suits it.

Where it works best

Screening and privacy. Plant 1.5m apart in a single row. Closer spacing does not close the gap any faster and makes thinning the clumps harder later on.

Windbreaks. The canes flex rather than resist, which is what an exposed block needs. A staggered double row at 1.5m filters wind instead of blocking it.

Pots and feature planting. A single clump in a container 600mm or wider reads as an architectural feature beside a pool or courtyard, though potted bamboo dries out fast in summer.

Growing variegated Malay Dwarf Bamboo in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the thickest canes and the strongest variegation, and part shade works but stays looser. This is a plant for tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens. It takes light frost once established, so hard frosting inland and cold southern districts are not the place for it.

Soil. Any reasonable garden soil that drains, improved with compost. Mulch 75mm deep over the root zone and keep it clear of the canes.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first summer, then weekly in dry spells. Bamboo is a grass and responds to nitrogen, so a general purpose or lawn fertiliser in early spring and again in summer pays for itself in cane thickness.

Pruning. Trim the foliage to a line whenever it suits you. Every two or three years cut the oldest canes out at ground level to let light into the clump and keep new growth colouring well.

What to expect when it arrives

It comes in 200mm pots sold in packs of six, single 300mm pots, and 45L plants. The 200mm and 300mm sizes arrive as young clumps with a handful of thin canes, usually under a metre, and take two to three seasons to reach screening height. A 45L plant is already multi caned and gives you a working screen in the first year.

Bamboo travels with some leaf loss and a few browned tips, which it grows out of within weeks. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• How to use bamboo for screening
• Browse the full bamboo range
• Compare clumping bamboo for privacy
• Other screening plants from 4m to 8m

Common questions

Will it spread and become a problem?

No. The rhizomes are short, so the clump widens slowly from the centre rather than sending runners out. Expect it to reach about 2.5m across after several years.

How far apart should I plant it for a screen?

1.5m apart in a single row. At that spacing the canopies meet within two seasons and each clump still has room to fill out at the base.

Can I keep it shorter than 5m?

Yes. Cut individual canes back to a node at the height you want and they branch out sideways there. Done once a year, a 3m screen is easy to hold.