11 Different Types of Japanese Bamboo (With Photos)

If you are a fan of Bamboo, you should be aware that there are several varieties of bamboo trees, and they also grow in various sizes and shapes. 

Japanese Bamboo is no different from the rest, but there are eleven unique species you should get to discover. 

The different types of Japanese bamboo include golden Bamboo, black Bamboo, Japanese arrow bamboo, blue Bamboo, and buddha belly bamboo.

In this article, we will provide you with detailed information on every one of these bamboos; please stick with us!

Types of Japanese Bamboo

If you plan on growing this Bamboo in gardens, you should go for a less invasive species because most of these species are very intrusive. So if you still want to go for an invasive species, then you should plant them in pots to limit the growth of their roots. 

Eight of the most invasive Japanese bamboo species include:

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1. Golden Bamboo 

Golden Bamboo is a prevalent variety that seems to change its color into a more golden-like one from yellow when under the sun. Whenever the sun casts its light on this plant, it turns to a bright yellow color, and when shade is thrown on it, it magically looks green. 

The golden Bamboo is referred to as the Hotei chiku in China. These golden bamboo canes have thick nodes around their base and have long, arrow-shaped spines and leaves. This kind of Bamboo is very graceful and fits in perfectly along borders.

2. Black Bamboo 

The black Bamboo is well known for catching the sightseer’s attention with its striking appearance. Its black stem can be seen sitting pretty beneath its bright green leaves. Although these plant stems start as green, they also turn blacker as they age. 

These trees can grow up to 5 feet tall and provide an excellent dark screen if desired. Due to their dramatic stems, the black bamboo plants look so unusual, but many people can be caught falling in love with them. 

These bamboo plants have juicy foliage that compliments their dark barks, making them suitable for any garden. 

3. Buddha Belly Bamboo 

Anyone who is a fan of the lumpy shape of the ambo stems would fall in love with the buddha bamboo. These bamboo plants have bulgy nodules all along the canes and sometimes come with rootlets forming part of a skirt just beneath it. 

So if you find the regular straight stems of the bamboo trees boring, then the buddha bamboo trees would be an excellent choice for you. If you know what a buddha is, you will notice that the stems of these trees look precisely like a buddha. 

These buddha bamboo trees are considered excellent ornamental plants due to their heavy foliage, shade, and curvy nature. The best part of this tree is that it is non-invasive; you can control its growth in your garden or farm.

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4. Arrow Bamboo 

The Japanese arrow bamboo was named for samurais, who use their canes to create arrows. Although this variety of Bamboo is native to parts of Japan, they are also native to some parts of Korea and can be seen growing in some parts of the US. 

The Japanese arrow bamboo is a very tall variety that can grow up to twenty feet tall if you plant them in the right environment under the right growing conditions. This plant tends to be very invasive when you plant them in warmer zones. 

5. Hedge Bamboo 

The hedge bamboo is stunning with its attractive turquoise hue in its early years. As time passes, the hedge bamboos start aging and developing yellow stems, but that doesn’t take its striking appearance away; it also provides good coverage. 

This plant would do well as a perfect screening plant because it can grow densely. 

6. Dwarf Bamboo 

The dwarf green stripe bamboo would make a perfect choice for you I =f you want something with well-variegated foliage. You should ensure that pruning is done in the spring to re-shoot it nicely later. 

As the name implies, this variety is a short one that can only grow up to the height of four feet tall. These plants like to be planted in partial shades; if you maintain them as you should, they can retain their leaves all year round. 

7. Painted Bamboo 

The painted Bamboo is beautiful as you would find their canes beautifully designed with striking vertical stripes, and you would also find their bats golden.

Some types of this plant have an apparent vertical line between the green stems, while some are too green for you to notice the lines on them. 

You should not underestimate this variety because when planted in the right conditions, they can grow up to a height of sixty feet, but you should be careful because this plant can be very invasive.

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8. Blue Bamboo 

This blue bloom provides the Bamboo with its name. The canes of blue Bamboo are the standard greenish color, but they usually come with blue stripes across their stems.

This piece is non-invasive, making it a good portion for gardens, and if you want to maintain your privacy, then you can plant these 25 feet tall Bamboo across your territory. 

The canes of this plant are wonderfully patchy just because of their blooms, a soft variation of green and blue. In summary, this bamboo specie would give your garden a cool tint and is usually hardy, making it a perfect choice if you do not live in a cold climate. 

9. Japanese Timber Bamboo 

If you want a bamboo tree that would give your garden a bolder impression, then the Japanese timber bamboo tree would do the trick. Although this plant is native to both China and Japan, they are splendid species that can survive in various climates. 

These trees can grow up to 40-60 feet tall, depending on the growing conditions you subject them to. The regal canes of these trees are usually deep green, but with age, they start to turn yellow. 

10. Japanese Temple Bamboo 

This temple bamboo is mainly referred to as marinara, and you can classify them as one of the largest bamboo species. This tree grows up to 30-40 feet tall, with its culms growing up to 1.5-2 inches thick. 

These elegant canes of this plant are deep green, but with age, they turn a lovely range of maroon colors, especially in the cold seasons. 

11. Hiroshima Bamboo 

The Hiroshima bamboo was named like that because it was the first Bamboo to emerge after the bombing of Hiroshima, Japan, in 1945. This bamboo tree species has the unique ability to be a beautiful specimen all year long and is also shade tolerant. 

Factors To Consider When Selecting the Best Bamboo for Your Garden 

Several factors can help you when making your choice of the best bamboo option to choose. A bamboo tree may look exquisite and all that, but you also have to look beyond its outlook; some factors you should check out before getting a suitable bamboo tree include; 

Size Of the Tree

The tree size has to be one of the most important critical factors when deciding what Bamboo you want. Bamboo trees are divided into three major segments; the short( dwarfs), the medium, and the tall trees(timbre). 

The smaller bamboo trees would work great for ground covers and accents alongside your gardens. More giant bamboo trees will be better if you want to create a centerpiece rest where you can relax. 

Climatic Conditions 

There are several variations of bamboo trees, and while some needs the sun to thrive correctly, others can do very well in cool climates. Particular Japanese Bamboo, known as tropical Bamboo, cannot survive in freezing weather and eventually die off. 

So if a naïve person decides to get this tree for cold weather, it would die off eventually, so you would need to carry out a detailed check on every bamboo tree you want. So ensure that your bamboo trees can withstand the cold and scorching weather. 

Running Or Clumping 

Another factor you should look out for is how fast your bamboo trees would spread. Some species are pretty invasive, while others are not.

So if you need your bamboo trees a bit less intrusive, you know what to do, you should ask questions, and with that, you can decide on the right one to get. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

What Types of Bamboos Are Grown in Japan? 

The varieties of Bamboo grown in Japan are haiku, madake, and mosochiku Bamboo. These bamboo types are very prominent in Japan and are hardy plants that can survive several growing conditions. 

How Can I Tell the Type of Bamboo I Have? 

Telling the type of bamboo tree you have after growth can be difficult. The best way to do this is to get to know about as many bamboo plant varieties as possible, and then, with time, you can tell which yours is. 

Some helpful indications in your plant are the size of the culms, shape of the leaves, branching pattern, and even the size of the leaves. 

What Type of Bamboo Is Best? 

One of the best Bamboo you would come across is the great bamboo poles. Two unique species of that Bamboo are the Moso bamboo and Guaduas Bamboo. Both species are extraordinary in industries and construction to utilize their strength and size. 

What Is the Fastest Growing Bamboo? 

One of the fastest-growing species of Bamboo is the most Bamboo, and although this bamboo plant is native to China, it can grow in any area with a temperate climate. 

Does The Bamboo Take Up to Five Years for Them to Grow? 

Some bamboo species take up to five years to fully grow and mature. It would help if you remembered that the bamboo plants are one of the fastest growing plants you can come across on planet earth. 

Some species of this plant can reach maturity in just 90 years, while some take a couple of years. Apart from that, there are even some other extraordinary species that can just one day reach a height of 35 inches (1.5 inches per hour). 

Does Bamboo Regrow When Cut? 

Yes, bamboo plants can regenerate, but instead of growing their stems directly, these bamboo plants unfurl new leaves, which later generate and send energy down to the root system to encourage the growth of new shoots. So the more you harvest these plants, the faster they grow. 

Does Bamboo Need much Water? 

One important thing you would need to do is water your bamboo plants adequately. Ensure you intensely Water these plants by soaking them down at least 8-12 inches with a sound drainage system. 

Even if you plant these bamboo canes in pots, ensure that excess water runs out of the bottom of the pool each time you water this plant, so they do not develop root rot.

If the roots of your bamboo plants get rotten, it starts affecting the stem down to the top, which is why preventing it would be better than curing it. 

Same way, underwatering is wrong; overwatering is terrible also.

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Conclusion 

You can choose from several fantastic bamboo pieces out there, but those we mentioned above are some of the bests you can come across, ranging from invasive to non-invasive varieties. 

So even if you get Bamboo for your garden or home, ensure that you have the conditions to rai them, so you do not have to lose your bamboo tree or plant, even before you make the most out of their benefits.