Bamboo in So Cal

Question from Jessica:
My husband and I have a large backyard and want to plant bamboo as a natural partition separating the vegetable garden portion and the Japanese garden portion of our yard. We know to put barriers underground to prevent the spreading, however I also want to plant a variety that will grow well in Oceanside (next to Guajome Park) and require less water. Have any suggestions?

Answer from Pat:
I too love bamboo, but before answering your question I want to add a word of caution: If you live in an area where the proximity to canyons and will vegetation enhances fire danger, my advice is don’t plant bamboo since bamboos are on the list of dangerously combustible plants. I also must add that most bamboos do better and look better with ample water. Mexican weeping bamboo (Otatea acuminate aztecorum) is perhaps the most drought-resistant bamboo I can think of. If you fail to water it at all it won’t die, but even this will look much better if well watered. Also it dies every 35 years and since that cycle began about ten years ago as I recall, you will only have it for about 25 years before it begins flowering, dying and looking ratty. (Bamboos are all monocarpic plants, which means they bloom but once and then die. Most species all bloom at one time hence the belief that they are all one plant or clones of one ancient plant.) I love Otatea due for its graceful appearance, despite its short lifetime, but it won’t serve your purpose since it makes a pretty huge clump. Some nurseries are selling this for hedges, so don’t be misled.

Your best option is to choose a better hedge-type of bamboo (a clumping bamboo that stays at the appropriate height and width) and the one I recommend is golden bamboo (Phyllostaches aurea) which grows to 6 or 10 feet tall. This one can take a lot of drought and is good for your climate zone, but it will look better if you water it. It’s widely available and often sold for hedges. I think you will be very happy with it. Fertilize it once a year in March with organic lawn food. Bamboo, after all is giant grass.