Bamboo is sought after for its rapid growth, dense foliage, and ability to create a lush, tropical aesthetic. Growing bamboo in Massachusetts is possible, but it requires careful selection and strategic planning to overcome cold winters and prevent unwanted spread. Success depends on understanding the plant’s cold tolerance and managing its aggressive underground growth.
Climate Viability and USDA Zones
The primary limiting factor for growing bamboo in Massachusetts is the winter cold, classified using the USDA Hardiness Zone system. This system divides North America into zones based on the average annual minimum winter temperature. Massachusetts spans Zones 5b to 7a, with most inland areas falling into the Zone 6a range, where minimum temperatures drop between -10°F and -5°F.
Selecting a species requires matching the plant’s known cold tolerance to the specific USDA zone. If the minimum winter temperature drops below a bamboo’s hardiness rating, the above-ground canes and foliage will likely suffer severe damage or die back. Many cold-hardy varieties have rhizomes that can survive lower temperatures, allowing them to regenerate new shoots in the spring. Coastal regions, including Cape Cod and the Islands, are often classified as the milder Zone 7a, allowing for a broader selection of species.
Choosing Cold-Hardy Varieties
Bamboo species are classified by their underground rhizome structure, which determines their growth habit. Running bamboos have thin, elongated, and aggressive rhizomes (leptomorphs) that spread horizontally, sending up new shoots far from the parent plant. Clumping bamboos possess short, thick, and curved rhizomes (pachymorphs) that cause the plant to expand slowly and stay in a tight cluster. In the colder Zones 5 and 6 of Massachusetts, running bamboo varieties are generally the only ones that exhibit the necessary cold-hardiness to thrive.
The genus Phyllostachys contains many of the most cold-tolerant running bamboos suitable for Massachusetts winters. Phyllostachys aureosulcata, or Yellow Groove bamboo, is frequently recommended, with a cold tolerance down to around -10°F. Other robust Phyllostachys varieties include P. bissetii and P. nuda, surviving temperatures as low as -4°F to -20°F. These running types are durable enough to withstand New England freezes, but their aggressive spreading nature makes containment necessary.
Clumping bamboo species tend to be less cold-tolerant than running types, but are much less invasive. Species within the genus Fargesia are exceptions and are the best choice for a non-spreading bamboo in the region. Fargesia murieliae (Umbrella Bamboo) is one of the hardiest clumpers, capable of surviving temperatures down to -20°F, and Fargesia nitida shows similar cold tolerance. For the warmer Zone 6 and 7 areas, Fargesia robusta cultivars offer an upright growth habit.
Containment Strategies and Local Ordinances
The aggressive, spreading nature of running bamboo necessitates physical containment measures to protect property and prevent neighbor disputes. The most effective method is installing a rhizome barrier, a specialized material designed to deflect the underground stems. This barrier should be made of high-density polypropylene material, typically 60 to 80 mil thick, which is superior to concrete or metal that can crack or rust.
The barrier must be installed at a depth of 30 to 36 inches to prevent the rhizomes from tunneling underneath. For proper deflection, the barrier should be angled outward slightly and must protrude at least two inches above the soil line. This above-ground lip ensures that any rhizomes attempting to grow over the top are exposed and can be easily pruned back during an annual inspection.
Residents must also be aware of the regulatory landscape concerning bamboo in Massachusetts. While there is no statewide ban, many municipalities have enacted local ordinances that restrict or prohibit the planting of running bamboo. Towns like Lexington, for example, require running bamboo to be contained with a specified barrier or grown in a planter. Property owners who allow running bamboo to encroach on abutting property or public land may be liable for removal costs and subject to daily fines, making it important to check local laws before planting.