Which Climate Will Bamboo Grow In?

Tropical or Hot Weather Bamboo

• Clumping bamboo, which tends to grow as a single patch rather than spreading over a large area, almost exclusively grows in tropical areas. This bamboo thrives on warm, humid weather and is native to warmer parts of the world. Tropical bamboos cannot usually be grown in North American climates and are more commonly found growing naturally in Asia, Africa, Australia and the South Pacific.

Colder Climate Bamboo

• Many varieties of running bamboo, which will spread across an area to act as a screen, can be grown in colder climates. Many varieties grow well in climate zones as low as Zone 5, which means it can survive winter temperatures as low as minus 20 degrees F. A few examples of particularly hardy bamboo will grow in climate Zone 4, where winter temperatures go as low as minus 30 F. This means that some kind of commercial bamboo will grow in almost every area of the continental United States, with the exception of some parts of the North.

Planting Conditions

• Just because a bamboo plant can survive sub-zero winter conditions does not mean that you can plant it in the middle of winter. For a new bamboo plant to thrive, plant it in soil with a temperature of at least 40 degrees F. Note that this temperature refers to the warmth of the soil, not the outside air. The soil should remain at this temperature for at least four weeks after you plant the bamboo. If you are planting in the middle to northern part of the United States, plant in late spring to ensure the right conditions for proper growth.

Growing Bamboo Indoors

• Your location does not need to restrict the kind of bamboo that you grow. Most bamboos, including tropical varieties, can be grown indoors. Tropical bamboo needs more light and humidity than temperate varieties, so you may have to set up supplemental lighting and moisture control if growing bamboos not indigenous to your climate. More temperate kinds of bamboo can be treated as normal houseplants.