bamboo in northern climes (grow, trees, cold, invasive)

[mainelander]

anyone know a good breed of bamboo that survives harsh winters, but isn't super invasive?

[Tennesseestorm]

Originally Posted by mainelander

anyone know a good breed of bamboo that survives harsh winters, but isn't super invasive?

Whats your zone? I am in zone 7a (bordering 6b) and we have some bamboo that we have had for years and years... spreads, but ours is under some White Pine trees, so not to bad... it has survived temps as cold as 5°.

[bellafinzi]

Originally Posted by mainelander

anyone know a good breed of bamboo that survives harsh winters, but isn't super invasive?

How harsh is harsh? I'm in Upstate NY near Lake Ontario.

Do you want a groundcover bamboo, a bamboo that grows over 15 ft or a shrub bamboo that grows to about 5 feet.

One of the hardest bamboos is Phyllostachys bissetii. It can grow over 20 feet high. But it is very invasive.

A bamboo that is not invasive and is relatively cold hardy is Fargesia Rufa. It grows to about 7 feet in the north. Sometimes are little taller.

[mainelander]

maine, mid maine to be exact is that 4 or 5zone? not sure

[wabanaki]

here is the bamboo hardiness to -10 F, I don't own one or can say it will grow in Maine.

Fargesia sp. 'Scabrida'

[Tennesseestorm]

Originally Posted by mainelander

maine, mid maine to be exact is that 4 or 5zone? not sure

ummmm.... guessing, but I would say central Maine may be more like zones 2 or 3.

[bellafinzi]

Originally Posted by mainelander

maine, mid maine to be exact is that 4 or 5zone? not sure

That might be too cold for any bamboo to stay evergreen.

[Sillypups]

We had Bamboo when we lived in San Diego.
Sorry I'm not much help.