The answer is a qualified yes: you can successfully grow bamboo in Kansas, but it requires careful selection and preparation. This resilient plant, which is technically a member of the grass family, offers an exotic look and can create a dense, fast-growing screen. However, the success of a bamboo planting depends entirely on matching the plant’s natural cold tolerance to the specific winter conditions of your location. Selecting the wrong variety can lead to a dead plant or, conversely, a plant that rapidly takes over the landscape.
Feasibility and Kansas Hardiness Zones
The primary factor determining a bamboo’s survival in Kansas is the minimum temperature it can endure, which is categorized by the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone system. Kansas spans a range of zones, typically from Zone 5b in the northwestern corner to Zone 7a in the southeastern regions of the state. Zone 5b experiences average minimum winter temperatures down to -15°F, while Zone 7a only drops to 0°F to 5°F.
Selecting a species rated for Zone 5 is the safest choice for statewide resilience. A plant rated for Zone 7, for instance, would likely fail in the western or northern parts of the state. The hardiness zone indicates the temperature the underground rhizomes can survive, which is generally more cold-tolerant than the above-ground canes. Even if the foliage suffers from winter dieback, the root system can regenerate in the spring if the zone rating is appropriate.
Choosing the Right Cold-Hardy Varieties
Bamboo varieties are broadly categorized into “running” and “clumping” types, and this distinction is crucial for both cold tolerance and management. The running varieties, which belong mostly to the Phyllostachys genus, are generally the most cold-hardy, often surviving down to Zone 5 or even Zone 4 conditions. These runners spread aggressively via long, underground rhizomes, making containment a necessity for most home gardeners.
Specific running bamboos well-suited for Kansas include Phyllostachys aureosulcata ‘Yellow Groove’, which can reach 14 feet and is hardy to around -10°F to -15°F. Another exceptionally tough option is Phyllostachys bissetii, known for its deep green canes and ability to withstand temperatures down to -20°F. For a timber-sized option, Phyllostachys nuda can grow up to 25 to 30 feet tall and is also rated for Zone 4 conditions, offering high confidence in winter survival.
Clumping bamboos, primarily from the Fargesia genus, are much less invasive, but they are generally less cold-tolerant than the runners. Varieties like Fargesia nitida ‘Blue Fountain’ and Fargesia rufa offer a compact, non-spreading habit and are hardy to approximately -10°F to -20°F, making them viable for the warmer Zone 6 and 7 areas of Kansas. These clumping species form a tight base that expands slowly, often only a few inches annually, which eliminates the need for extensive root barriers.
Containment Strategies for Aggressive Growth
Since the most cold-hardy varieties are typically runners, containment is necessary to prevent the plant from becoming invasive. The most effective method involves installing a physical barrier to block the plant’s horizontal rhizomes. This barrier should be made of a non-degradable material, such as 40 to 60-mil thick high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic.
The barrier must be buried deep enough to intercept the traveling rhizomes, with a recommended installation depth of 24 to 30 inches. It is important to angle the barrier slightly outward at the top to encourage any rhizomes that strike it to grow upward rather than diving underneath. Critically, the barrier should protrude one to two inches above the soil surface, allowing you to easily spot and prune any rhizomes attempting to cross over the top.
Routine rhizome pruning is an alternative containment method that requires digging a shallow trench (approximately one foot deep and one foot wide) around the planting area to expose running rhizomes as they attempt to cross. Gardeners should inspect this trench twice a year, typically in the spring and fall, and use a sharp spade or shears to cut and remove the exposed rhizomes. This method requires consistent vigilance but avoids the cost and effort of burying a deep plastic barrier.
Preparing Bamboo for Kansas Winters and Drought
Kansas weather presents challenges beyond just low temperatures, including severe drying winter winds and periodic summer drought. Proper site selection involves planting the bamboo in an area sheltered from the prevailing north and west winter winds, such as near a fence, building, or dense evergreen grouping. This protection minimizes desiccation.
Heavy mulching is a simple yet powerful technique for protecting bamboo’s root system from extreme temperature shifts and moisture loss. Applying a thick layer of organic mulch, such as wood chips or shredded leaves, over the rhizome zone helps insulate the soil and maintain a more stable temperature. This insulation is particularly important as it helps prevent the ground from freezing solid, which can interrupt nutrient and water uptake.
During the late fall and early winter, it is important to provide a deep soaking. Bamboo is an evergreen plant that loses moisture through its leaves all winter, and the cold Kansas winds accelerate this process. Ensuring the soil is thoroughly saturated before the ground freezes helps the plant stay hydrated through the cold, dry period.