Hardy Bamboo and Ornamental Grasses

Ornamental Grass Hardiness

• Most types of ornamental grasses grow well in even poor soil conditions. Such grasses are also low-maintenance and resistant to pests and plant diseases. A number of ornamental grass varieties sold in nurseries around the country do well in a wide range of climates, soils and altitudes.

Ornamental Grasses

• Ornamental grasses come in a variety of types, from purple fountain grass to maiden grass to Japanese silver grass. For example, feather reed grass prefers a clay soil, though blue lyme grass prefers cooler climes to hotter locations. Some like shade, such as sedge or Japanese blood grass. Horsetail and feather reed grass grow well in moist or wet soil, and Indian grass and tufted hair grass prefer dry soil. Research the many varieties of ornamental grass available, and select the type that will best suit your geographical location and climate zone.

Bamboo Types

• There are more than 300 varieties of bamboo, including timber bamboo, which can grow up to 30 feet in height. Hardy clumping bamboo grows from 8 to 20 feet tall. Bamboo is often used by home landscapers to create a privacy screen or cluster of growth. While many types of bamboo prefer dry soil, some grow well even in cooler climates and are hardy to temperatures ranging just below freezing. Such varieties include the Bambusa ventricosa and the Borinda lushienis. Bamboo that is hardy in desert conditions includes the Bambusa malingensis and the Bambusa multiplex.

Bamboo Growing Zones

• Select the type of bamboo that will grow best in your climate zone. Study a bamboo climate zone map to determine specific varieties of bamboo to suit your region. For example, climate Zone 8 includes warmer states such as Texas, California and parts of the South. Zone 3 covers areas near the Canadian border. Temperature hardiness ranges from 30 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit in warmer climates to minus 40 degrees in cold areas such as upper Wisconsin, Minnesota and Montana. Using the climate zone information, you can choose the hardiest bamboo varieties for your region.