I'm in zone 5a. I am looking for a bamboo that can withstand our winter here. I'm also looking for a bamboo that is not invasive.

Oh, and which online store that I can buy them and can be trusted. :)

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Neil

I don't like an invasive type. I was doing some research and found fargesias. Can fargesias really endure z5 winters?

I would like to have bamboo clump instead.

Thanks,

Neil

Like Neil, I'm hoping to learn about bamboo that can withstand these kind of climate extremes. Thanks!

I have seen a very nice large clump of Golden Groove (Yellow Grove?) Growing at the University of Minnesota Botanical garden in the Oriental Garden out side and seems to make it year to year. It has been several years since I last saw it and they may have had to replant or replace, don't know. That is in Minneapolis in the Chanhassen area.

My theory was, hey what the heck, buy some and try it.

I would recommend planting on the southern side of a large structure and giving the canes lots of mulch in the fall. I had mine planted down in a lower entry walk way to a basement protected on W, N, and E side with full sun in the winter from the S. Also, the snow tended to drift down into this area and normally the boo would be burried in a drift 6-10' deep most of the winter.

Give it a shot.

I planted Yellow Grove bamboo in Naperville/Warrenville
area (i.e. 5 to 10 degrees colder than the lakefront area)
since early '90s. Their shoot come up each spring, and
their branches died after hard frosts, just like
other perennials. Unlike Southern states, running-root concerns are lesser of an issue in northern Illinois,
as winter hibernation pretty much scale back its growth.

Planting them in a sunroom can turn a single-gallon plant
into a bamboo jungle in five years, assuming you multiply
them each spring around early April.

An expert advise, leaving potted bamboo plants outdoor
will not survive the Chicago winter, even a mild one.

Paul L. Naperville IL