While bamboo often brings to mind Asian landscapes, North America is home to its own distinct native bamboo species. These plants are not recent introductions but have been a natural component of various ecosystems across the southeastern United States for millennia.
Unveiling North America’s Native Bamboo
North America’s sole native bamboo genus is Arundinaria, commonly referred to as cane. These species differ significantly from the towering, often invasive bamboo varieties typically introduced from Asia. Native Arundinaria species are characterized by their generally smaller stature and a distinct growth pattern involving running rhizomes that form extensive underground networks. This enables them to spread and create dense thickets, historically known as “canebrakes”.
These native bamboos are members of the grass family, Poaceae. Unlike many bamboo species worldwide, which are often found in tropical or subtropical climates, Arundinaria represents a temperate group of bamboos. Their presence across a wide range of habitats in the southeastern United States highlights their adaptability.
Key Native Species and Their Habitats
Within the Arundinaria genus, there are four recognized native species, each with preferences for specific habitats. River cane (Arundinaria gigantea) is the largest and most widespread, reaching 8 to 25 feet tall with culm diameters exceeding 2.8 inches. It commonly forms dense stands along floodplains, riverbanks, and in low woods across the southeastern and central United States.
Switch cane (Arundinaria tecta) is generally smaller, typically growing 2 to 6 feet tall, preferring moister sites like wetlands, swamps, and moist forests within the coastal plain. Hill cane (Arundinaria appalachiana) is the shortest, usually 1 to 2 feet high, with deciduous leaves, thriving on dry to moist upland slopes and in oak-hickory forests in the southern Appalachian Mountains. The fourth species, Arundinaria alabamensis (Tallapoosa cane), has a more restricted range, found primarily in northeastern Alabama.
Ecological Significance
Native North American bamboos play a significant role in their ecosystems, providing habitat and food for wildlife. Their dense thickets, known as canebrakes, offer shelter and nesting sites for species like Swainson’s and Kentucky warblers. Specialized insects, such as certain butterflies and moths, depend on native cane as a larval food source. Mammals like deer, swamp rabbits, and black bears also utilize canebrakes for forage and cover.
These bamboos also stabilize soil with their extensive root systems, preventing erosion along riverbanks and in riparian zones. This helps improve water quality by reducing sediment runoff. Historically, canebrakes were culturally important to indigenous peoples, who used the cane for construction, tools, basketry, and food. The extensive historical range of canebrakes has drastically declined, with some estimates suggesting a 98% reduction, impacting the species that rely on them.
Identifying Native Versus Introduced Bamboo
Distinguishing native North American bamboos from introduced species requires observing several characteristics. All native Arundinaria species are “running” bamboos, spreading aggressively via underground rhizomes to form large, interconnected colonies. Many ornamental bamboos are also running types, but some introduced species are “clumping” bamboos with a more contained growth habit.
Native river cane typically has culms (stems) less than 1 inch in diameter, though mature plants can be larger. Many non-native bamboos, particularly larger ornamental varieties, frequently have culms exceeding 1 inch in diameter and can grow over 30 feet tall. Another distinguishing feature is the branching pattern: native river cane branches often appear tangled and grow relatively parallel to the main stem. In contrast, many non-native bamboos have straighter branches that emerge at a more outward 45-degree angle. The presence of a distinct groove, called a sulcus, along one side of the culm between the nodes often indicates non-native Phyllostachys species, a feature generally absent in native Arundinaria.