Bamboo is an amazing plant: some species grow up to 70 centimeters in just one day and can become as tall as a tree within a few months. Read about when and how bamboo sprouts - and what you should consider when cutting.
When does bamboo shoots begin in Germany?
Bamboo in Germany mainly sprouts between April and August and forms its leaves as soon as the stalk has completed its height growth. Hardy varieties such as Fargesia sprout earlier than cold-sensitive species such as Phyllostachys.
When will the bamboo sprout again?
Bamboo, no matter which of the around 50 different species it is, needs a lot of warmth to grow. That's why the plant usually only grows in German regions between April and August, whereby this period refers to the pure height growth of the stalks.
Since bamboo is botanically a grass, the bamboo plants only grow in length. However, the stalk does not grow in thickness - the bamboo stalk comes out of the earth as a shoot with its original thickness.
When does bamboo get new leaves?
The bamboo plants only develop leaves when the stalk has completed its height growth. Depending on the weather in spring, it can take a while for the bare stalks to turn into leaves. The hardy varieties of umbrella bamboo (Fargesia) are less sensitive to cold than other species such as Phyllostachys and therefore sprout earlier.
For this reason, Fargesias are often used as hedges or privacy screens, especially since they grow as a clump and do not require a rhizome barrier. You prune this bamboo hedge like any other hedge, with one difference: once the stalks are shortened, they no longer grow upwards.
How long does bamboo sprout?
Bamboo sprouts throughout the entire growing season and only takes a break in growth shortly before the start of autumn. Each stalk reaches its final height after about two to four months and then forms leaves. The young sprouts also emerge from the ground by late summer.
The following year, the previous year's stalks no longer grow, but develop their leaf mass right at the beginning of the season. These stalks can live for around seven to nine years, then die and should be cut back. The same applies to dried or otherwise dead plant parts.
How fast does bamboo grow?
Depending on the species and variety, bamboo grows at different speeds. However, all types of bamboo have the same characteristic that after one season the growth of the stalks is completely complete. However, new stalks appear every year, which also become taller and thicker from year to year.
Since the growth rate not only depends on the age of the root system or rhizomes, but also on factors such as location, soil quality and nutrient supply, the following information are only average values:
- Fargesia rufa: 40 to 50 cm / year
- Fargesia nitida: 40 to 80 cm / year
- Phyllostachys bissetii (giant bamboo): 50 to 80 cm / year
- Fargesia murielae: 20 to 50 cm / year
- Phyllostachys nigra (Black Bamboo): 20 to 50 cm / year
Tip
Can you cut back bamboo radically?
Due to the special growth of the bamboo stalks, radical pruning is not recommended - then you would have to wait for the bamboo grove to reform. You should only resort to radical cutting if the bamboo plants are sick or old and you therefore want to rejuvenate them.
