Agribiomix nursery · northern France
Bamboo: choosing, planting and growing bamboo
Privacy hedge, bamboo in a pot or an agricultural crop for biomass: how to choose the right variety, plant it at the right time and keep the rhizomes under control.
- 300bamboo varieties compared in our ListeBambou tool
- 10 to 30 tof dry matter per hectare per year as a farm crop, depending on variety and soil
- 2 familiesof bamboo: running (spreading rhizomes) and clumping (compact)
- Since 2023a trial plot in northern France to measure growth, hardiness and uses
Running or clumping bamboo: the first choice
Not all bamboos behave the same way. Running bamboos (Phyllostachys) send rhizomes far from the plant: they quickly form a dense hedge or grove, but they must be contained. Clumping bamboos (Fargesia) grow in a compact clump: shorter and easier to live with in a garden, they need no barrier.
- For a tall, fast screen: a running bamboo, with a rhizome barrier.
- For a small garden or a pot: a clumping bamboo.
- For biomass or canes: a large Phyllostachys such as Moso or Viridiglaucescens.
Read more: running or clumping bamboo, which one to choose.
| Variety | Type | Mature height | Hardiness | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phyllostachys edulis (Moso) | running | 10 to 15 m | approx. −15 °C | biomass, canes, shoots |
| Phyllostachys viridiglaucescens | running | 6 to 10 m | approx. −20 °C | tall hedge, biomass |
| Phyllostachys aurea | running | 4 to 8 m | approx. −18 °C | privacy hedge, shoots |
| Phyllostachys nigra (black bamboo) | running | 5 to 8 m | approx. −18 °C | ornamental, black canes |
| Fargesia | clumping | 2 to 5 m | approx. −25 °C | hedge without barrier, pot |
Indicative figures: height and hardiness vary with climate, soil and the age of the clump.
Planting bamboo: when and how
Plant bamboo in spring (March to May), when the soil warms up, or in early autumn (September–October) to benefit from the moisture. Avoid frost and heatwaves.
- Soil: deep, moist and well drained; bamboo likes water but not standing water.
- Exposure: sun or part shade for Phyllostachys, part shade for Fargesia.
- Watering: regular in the first year, especially in summer.
- Mulching: keeps the soil moist and limits competing weeds.
Running bamboo? Install a high-density polyethylene rhizome barrier, buried 60 to 70 cm deep and sticking out a few centimetres above ground. Step-by-step guide: installing a rhizome barrier.
A bamboo privacy hedge
Evergreen and fast-growing, bamboo makes an excellent living screen. Phyllostachys aurea or viridiglaucescens gives a tall, dense hedge within a few seasons; Fargesia gives a lower hedge with no barrier.
- Spacing: about 1 m between two Fargesia, 1.5 to 2 m between two running bamboos.
- A rhizome barrier along the hedge for running bamboos, especially on a property boundary.
- Lightly trimming the tallest canes keeps the hedge full at the base.
Undecided between several varieties? Filter them by height, hardiness and rhizome type in ListeBambou.
Bamboo farming: three outlets
Still rare in France, bamboo farming is well developed in other countries, especially in Asia. Our trial plot in northern France, planted in 2023, measures growth, disease resistance and possible uses.
Shoots
Harvested in spring and eaten as a vegetable, they are increasingly sought after in Europe. Our estimate: revenue of around €10,000 per hectare per year, for about €5,000 of costs, mostly harvest labour.
Canes
Construction, furniture, objects: the canes are light and strong, and demand is growing with eco-building. Benchmark: up to 150 m³ of canes per hectare per year, i.e. around €22,500 at €150/m³, for €3,000 to €8,000 of costs depending on mechanisation.
Biomass
Bamboo regrows after every cut: 10 to 30 t of dry matter per hectare per year, i.e. 200 to 600 MWh. Sold like forest wood chips (€80 to €120/t), that is €800 to €3,600 per hectare per year. It is the easiest outlet to mechanise.
Orders of magnitude estimated by Agribiomix, to be confirmed for each project (soil, variety, outlet, distance). In detail: giant bamboo yield and profitability per hectare.
Our plants and services
Bamboo plants
Moso, Viridiglaucescens, Aurea, Nigra, Fargesia: potted plants with plant-health guarantees and certified variety origin.
See the plants →
ListeBambou
Our free search engine to compare 300 varieties for your project.
Compare →
Crop plan
Choice of varieties, planting layout and yearly crop schedule for a farm project.
Planting support
Feasibility study, use of our planting machine and organisation of the planting (irrigation not included).
Bamboo guide
Frequently asked questions about bamboo
Is bamboo invasive?
Running bamboos can be: their rhizomes spread several metres a year. A properly installed rhizome barrier keeps them in check. Clumping bamboos (Fargesia) stay in a clump and do not have this problem.
Which bamboo for a privacy hedge?
For a tall, fast screen, Phyllostachys aurea or viridiglaucescens with a rhizome barrier. For a 2 to 4 m hedge without a barrier, a Fargesia.
When should bamboo be planted?
In spring (March to May) or early autumn (September–October), outside frost and heatwaves, with regular watering in the first year.
Can bamboo be grown in a pot?
Yes, preferably a clumping variety such as Fargesia, in a large container of at least 50 litres, watered often: in a pot, bamboo dries out quickly.
Is bamboo profitable for a farmer?
It can be, through shoots, canes or biomass, but profitability depends on the outlet, the soil and the transport distance. We can study your project before any planting.
Planning a bamboo grove or hedge?
Tell us about your land and your goal: we will recommend the right variety and density.