Bamboo is a type of perennial evergreen grass, not a tree, and it grows extensively across the United States. While many people associate the plant with Asia, it thrives in a wide variety of climates across America. Its presence is due to a mix of species native to the continent and numerous varieties cultivated since their introduction. The current distribution is determined by its natural history and the cold-hardiness of the many different species planted by humans.
Native American Bamboo and Introduced Varieties
The history of bamboo in the United States begins with the genus Arundinaria, the single type native to North America, often called cane. These native species, which include river cane (Arundinaria gigantea), historically formed dense ecosystems known as canebrakes. These canebrakes once covered vast areas from the lower Ohio Valley south to Florida and west into Texas and Oklahoma, growing well in the fertile soils of river lowlands.
For thousands of years, native cane served as an important cultural resource for Indigenous peoples, who used it for construction, basket weaving, and tools. European settlement led to the clearing of these expansive stands for farming, reducing the canebrakes by over 98% of their former extent. Today, the vast majority of bamboo seen across the country are introduced species, primarily originating from Asia.
These non-native bamboos, such as those in the Phyllostachys genus, were first brought to the US in the late 19th century for ornamental and commercial purposes. These introduced varieties have since become the most common types encountered in American landscapes. Understanding the distinction between the native, ecologically diminished cane and the widely cultivated Asian varieties is necessary to understand bamboo’s presence here.
Geographic Reach and Hardiness Zones
Bamboo’s ability to thrive across America is largely governed by its cold tolerance, categorized using the USDA Hardiness Zone system. This system maps regions based on their average annual minimum winter temperature, which determines the survivability of different plant species. While native cane is restricted to the warmer Southeast, introduced varieties have been selectively bred to survive in much wider regions.
Many common running bamboos, like certain Phyllostachys species, are cold-hardy and can survive minimum temperatures down to USDA Zone 5 (winter lows around -20°F). The primary challenge for most bamboo is not a single frost but prolonged, deep freezing, which damages the underground rhizome structure. Even in colder zones, the plant may lose its leaves and above-ground canes, but the insulated root system often survives to sprout new growth in the spring.
The Pacific Northwest, the temperate regions of the Midwest, and the entire southern half of the country can support a wide variety of bamboo species. Matching the plant’s specific minimum temperature rating to the local hardiness zone is necessary for successful long-term growth.
The Crucial Difference: Running vs. Clumping Bamboo
The most important distinction when considering bamboo growth is its rhizome structure, which determines how it spreads. Bamboo falls into two main categories: running and clumping, characterized by their underground root systems. Running bamboos, or monopodial types, possess long, thin rhizomes that aggressively spread horizontally beneath the soil, sometimes traveling up to 20 feet in a single growing season.
This spreading habit is why running varieties, such as golden bamboo, have earned a reputation for being invasive in domestic settings. To manage this lateral growth, homeowners must install specialized root barriers, which are thick sheets of plastic or metal that redirect the rhizomes vertically. Without containment, the plant rapidly colonizes adjacent areas of a yard or garden.
In contrast, clumping bamboos, or sympodial types, feature short, thick rhizomes that expand only a few inches each year. The new canes emerge close to the original plant, forming a tight, contained cluster that does not spread aggressively. Genera like Fargesia are popular clumping types, and they are easier to manage in small gardens without the need for root barriers.
The choice between the two growth habits depends on the planting location and the amount of control desired. Clumping types offer predictability, while running types offer faster screen creation.