Hardly any other plant creates such a typical Japanese flair as bamboo. Combining it correctly is difficult, right? Below you will find out what is important and which companion plants look fabulous next to the bamboo.
Which plants can be combined well with bamboo?
To combine bamboo effectively, velvet hydrangeas, Japanese maple, cherry laurel, pampas grass, miscanthus, tree ferns, hydrangeas, rhododendrons, hostas and cherry laurel go well with the different types of bamboo. Pay attention to the appropriate location requirements and growth heights of the plants.
What factors should you consider when combining bamboo?
In order not to regret combinations with bamboo, you should pay attention to the following factors in advance:
- Foliage color: juicy green (evergreen)
- Location requirements: sunny to partially shaded, humus and loose soil
- Growth habit: tightly upright
- Growth height: up to 9 m
You should definitely take the almost dizzying growth height of bamboo into account when combining. Such tall specimens belong in the background of mixed plantings. But not all bamboo grows up to 9 m high. There are some species of bamboo, such as the dwarf bamboo, that only grow to an average height of 1.50 m.
The evergreen foliage of bamboo also decorates the surroundings of other plants that are bare in winter. It forms an attractive base. You can also combine the sweet grass fantastically with red-leaved or blue-leaved plants.
When combining, also think about the location requirements of the bamboo. As a rule, long-term friendships do not develop with shadow plants.
Combine bamboo in the bed or hedge
Bamboo is often used in beds as a creative background element. In front of it there can be plants that also come from Asia and harmonize with the bamboo. For example, flowering trees that really shine against the lush green of the bamboo look impressive. Various grasses, ferns and smaller perennials also go well with the bamboo in the bed.
The bamboo harmonizes perfectly with the following companion plants:
- Grasses such as pampas grass and miscanthus
- Velvet Hydrangeas
- Tree Fern
- Japanese Japanese Maple
- hydrangeas
- Rhododendrons
- Funkia
- Cherry Laurel
Combine bamboo with velvet hydrangeas
Velvet hydrangeas look particularly pretty in combination with bamboo. The large flowers create a striking contrast to the tightly upright overall appearance of the bamboo. The two plants love partially shaded locations and they also have similar requirements when it comes to the substrate.
Combine bamboo with Japanese maple
On the one hand, it is the origin that unites both plants and makes them suitable neighbors. On the other hand, there are the fiery red leaves of the Japanese maple, which form an exciting complementary contrast to the lush green of the bamboo.
Combine bamboo with cherry laurel
Combinations of bamboo and cherry laurel for hedge planting are popular. They both tolerate partial shade and like a fresh and humus-rich substrate. They are also evergreen and provide good privacy protection. The two complement each other visually, as the bamboo has narrow, lanceolate light green leaves, whereas the cherry laurel has dark green and wider leaves.
Combine bamboo in the bucket
If you want to combine bamboo in a pot, flowering plants, ferns and hostas fit wonderfully into its surroundings. However, place the plants in separate pots and then place them next to each other. Otherwise the bamboo is too aggressive and could crowd out weaker plants.
Bamboo in the pot goes well with:
- Camellias
- Daylilies
- Sword fern
- Funkia
Combine bamboo with camellias
The camellias match the bamboo because they have the same requirements. In addition, they originally come from the same homeland and, as plant neighbors, form an exotic coexistence with the bamboo.
