The question of whether bamboo is native to Georgia often confuses residents. The straightforward answer is yes; a true bamboo species is native to the state and the broader southeastern United States. However, the vast majority of the dense, rapidly spreading bamboo thickets seen across Georgia are non-native species introduced from Asia. This distinction is important: the native cane is a natural, non-aggressive part of the local ecosystem, while the imported varieties are considered highly invasive pests. Understanding the difference clarifies the plant’s ecological role and its reputation as a nuisance.
Georgia’s Single Native Bamboo Species
The only bamboo species indigenous to North America is river cane or giant cane, a woody grass native to the Southern landscape. This species once formed massive monocultures called canebrakes along riverbanks and in floodplains across the Southeast, including Georgia. These ecosystems provided essential habitat for numerous species of mammals, birds, and invertebrates.
The native cane plays a significant role in environmental stability, particularly in riparian areas. Its dense root system is highly effective at controlling soil erosion along stream banks and filtering runoff. Unfortunately, this habitat has been severely diminished since European settlement due to agricultural clearing, overgrazing, and changes in natural fire regimes. It is estimated that more than 98% of the original canebrake habitat has been lost, making this native bamboo increasingly rare.
The Aggressive Non-Native Bamboos
The bamboo most people encounter in residential yards is an aggressive, non-native import, primarily from the genus Phyllostachys. Species like Golden Bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea) and Black Bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra) were introduced to the United States over a century ago. They were initially planted as ornamental features, privacy screens, or for harvesting the culms.
These non-native bamboos are often referred to as “running bamboos” because of their growth mechanism, which relies on fast-spreading underground stems called rhizomes. These rhizomes can grow horizontally for several feet each year, allowing a grove to rapidly expand and double in size annually. This aggressive growth habit allows them to quickly escape their original planting sites, leading to widespread environmental and property issues.
The ecological impact of running bamboo is significant, as its dense growth shades out and displaces native understory plants, reducing biodiversity. Once established, these thickets are extremely difficult to remove. Any small piece of rhizome left in the soil can regenerate an entire new stand, making them frustrating invasive plants for property owners across Georgia.
Practical Identification Differences
Distinguishing the native river cane from non-native running bamboos involves observing a few distinct physical traits. The native cane typically produces thinner culms, or stalks, that are generally less than one inch in diameter. While native cane can reach heights of 15 feet, it is usually found at a shorter stature, often between four and ten feet tall.
In contrast, common invasive bamboos, such as Golden Bamboo, are generally much larger and more robust. Their culms frequently exceed one inch in diameter and can quickly grow to heights greater than 15 feet, sometimes reaching 30 feet or more.
A major difference is the branching pattern at the nodes, which are the rings along the stem. Native cane branches emerge almost parallel to the main stem, creating a less dense, more upright appearance. Non-native running bamboos often have branches that grow out from the culm at a wider, more perpendicular angle.
Furthermore, many non-native running bamboos, including Phyllostachys species, possess a distinct, shallow groove running vertically along the length of the culm between the nodes. This feature is called a sulcus. The sulcus is typically absent on the native river cane, which has a nearly perfectly round stem.