Bamboo has a well-deserved reputation for being one of the fastest-growing plants on earth. Indeed, some tropical varieties can grow more than a meter a day in the growing season. Pull up a cozy chair, and you can actually watch it grow.

Running bamboo has earned a particularly nasty reputation for its growth habits. That’s because those underground rhizomes spread so vigorously. They grow outward, persistently and invisibly, eventually sending up new shoots, often in unexpected or undesirable places. This led many gardeners to wonder whether planting bamboo might not be such a good idea after all. In the following article, we’ll explain how these bamboo varieties grow and how to cope with the potential threat.

This article is part of an extensive series about the many different kinds of bamboo. To learn more, be sure to check out our Complete Guide to Growing Bamboo and our comprehensive Directory of Bamboo Species.

NOTE: The article first appeared in June 2019, most recently updated in May 2026.

Quick Facts About Running Bamboo

• Growth habit: Running (monopodial / leptomorph rhizomes)
• Tribe: Arundinarieae
• Most common genera: Phyllostachys, Pleioblastus, Sasa
• Climate: Best for temperate and cold climates
• Cold hardiness: Many species survive below 0º F
• Growth rate: Very fast once established
• Containment: Requires barriers, trenching, or regular pruning
• Best uses: Privacy screens, timber groves, ornamental gardens
• Potential issue: Can become invasive if unmanaged

What is a running bamboo?

Among the 90 genera and roughly 1,500 species of bamboo, we like to divide them into two simple categories. Basically, we have runners and clumpers. The most widespread genera of runners are the Phyllostachys and Pleioblastus. Runners generally perform better in temperate climates. Other interesting and important genera of running bamboo include Chimonobambusa, Pseudosasa, Sasa, and Semiarundinaria.

Rhizome Structure

Running bamboo has a distinctively vigorous rhizome root system. The monopodial or leptomorph rhizomes tend to grow horizontally, parallel to the ground, spreading outward and overtaking an area. As the horizontal rhizomes extend outward, they eventually produce fresh shoots, new culms, growing upward. Sometimes, but not always, these monopodial bamboos can spread very aggressively. They can definitely become invasive. They can tear up your lawn, crawl under fences, and become very difficult to remove.

You might not notice this aggressive growth habit right away, but in time you will. In fact, there is an old adage that perfectly describes the behavior of running bamboo. “The first year it sleeps, the second year it creeps, the third year it leaps.” It typically takes a full season or an entire year for a new bamboo plant to get established. Then the rhizomes begin to spread underground and get a solid foothold. Finally, the new shoots begin emerging from this underground network, and you realize that the bamboo is a real force of nature.

Running and Clumping Bamboo

Clumping bamboos, by contrast, are happier in the tropical and subtropical climes. Bambusa is the most prevalent genus of clumping bamboo. Dendrocalamus and Fargesia are other important genera to be aware of.

Like all bamboo, clumpers also have rhizome roots, but they are what’s called sympodial, or pachymorph. These sympodial rhizomes mostly grow close together, branching out often, to create a tight cluster of culms. It’s unlikely for a clumping bamboo to become invasive.

While running rhizomes grow horizontally, clumping bamboo rhizomes curve upward in a U-shape, typically emerging very close to the other poles. And where the clump will eventually reach its maximum footprint, a grove of running bamboo can continue to expand indefinitely.

Why would you want to plant running bamboo?

With so much potential to be invasive and disruptive, why would anyone want to plant a running bamboo? That’s a very good question. But as it turns out, there are a few good reasons to plant a runner instead of a clumper.

Definitely check out our article on the 10 Best Bamboos for your Garden.

Cold-Hardiness

When selecting anything to plant in your garden, one of the chief factors will always be the climate. And when you think of bamboo, you probably think of places like Hawaii, Southeast Asia, and Central America. In other words, the tropics. Indeed, bamboo thrives in these regions, especially the clumping varieties of bamboo.

But most of us don’t live in the tropics. And for those of us who do, there’s usually already plenty of bamboo around. But for the rest of us, we need something more adaptable. No problem. There are many types of bamboo indigenous to the more temperate zones of Asia, including China, Korea, and Japan. These temperate, cold-hardy bamboos usually belong in the running category.

The largest genus of these more temperate Chinese bamboos is Phyllostachys. They do very well in a range of climates, and they are definitely runners. Nurseries throughout most U.S. states and Europe can sell Phyllostachys and other temperate runners and feel good knowing they will probably thrive.

So planting a running bamboo actually makes a lot of sense if you live in a more temperate zone. But these runners aren’t the only varieties that can grow in a cool climate. If you’re living outside the tropics and trying to avoid planting a runner, keep an eye out for varieties of Bambusa like Oldhammi, genus Chusquea, and most any bamboo from the genus Fargesia.

NOTE: Phyllostachys is also one of the easier bamboo varieties to identify. Look for the distinctive grooves that grow along the length of the internodes, alternating from one side to the other.

Fast Growth for Privacy

As we have seen, bamboo’s vigorous growth habit can be a double-edged sword. But many growers are looking for something that will really display its vegetative might. Some gardeners just have a lot of respect for the great vitality and tenacity of bamboo and want to see it grow in full force. But usually they have more practical intentions, like trying to fill a large area quickly. 

Bamboo can create an excellent privacy screen, and many people are impatient to establish their privacy. If you want a tall hedge to grow along your fence line, bamboo is an attractive option. And if you want it to cover the property line and fill in quickly, an aggressive runner can be even more appealing. 

Ornamental Features

In many cases, gardeners will plant bamboo for specific aesthetic features. Whether to beautify the garden or to harvest the attractive poles, striped bamboo and black bamboo are very desirable. Phyllostachys nigra, better known simply as black bamboo, is one of the most popular species of all, due to its rich, dark color. The dried poles are especially attractive for crafts and light construction.

Certain other varieties of running bamboo also have very attractive features, like long and elegant poles. And for those who enjoy combining a medley of different bamboo species, they will have a hard time completing their landscape without at least one or two runners in the mix.

Best Running Bamboo Species

Selecting the right bamboo species from among the vast range of choices is not always easy. These are some of the most popular choices.

Phyllostachys aurea (Golden Bamboo): Medium-sized and one of the most common varieties of bamboo in temperate climates. Spreads quickly and produces tasty, edible shoots.

Phyllostachys nigra (Black Bamboo): Beautiful, dark culms make this one of the most desirable ornamental varieties. Similar in size to P. aurea.

Phyllostachys aureosulcata (Yellow Groove Bamboo): A stunning alternative to Golden Bamboo, somewhat larger in size, with vibrant, striped culms.

Phyllostachys bambusoides (Japanese Timber Bamboo): Towering and graceful timber bamboo for spacious gardens.

Pseudosasa japonica (Arrow Bamboo): Medium-sized bamboo with erect poles and longer leaves, spreading more slowly than most Phyllostachys.

Semiarundinaria fastuosa (Temple Bamboo): Medium-sized variety with exceptionally straight, elegant poles and abundant upper foliage.

How to Maintain and Control Running Bamboo?

So you’ve decided to plant some running bamboo in your yard. Must you concede defeat and consign yourself to being overrun with woody grasses? Absolutely not! It’s not as easy as plucking daisies, but there are ways to contain running bamboo and keep it in check.

Containers

There are numerous types of containers you can use to prevent a running bamboo from taking over your garden. Planting bamboo in a pot is certainly one option, but be aware that a running bamboo will get root-bound very quickly, even in a good-sized pot.

I like to use half wine barrels (or whiskey barrels, depending on what part of the country you’re in). They have a more natural look in the garden, compared to your big black plastic pots from the nursery. And they’re spacious. Even so, I find myself unpotting the bamboo almost every year to split the rootball into three or four pieces. (Another advantage of running bamboo is that it’s pretty easy to propagate.)

Keep in mind, if you place your pot directly on top of the soil, the roots will quickly find their way through the drainage hole and into the earth. Be sure to place a stepping stone or something under the pot, or set it on a patio. Also, avoid ceramic pots, as they are prone to bursting due to expanding roots and rhizomes. And never use a pot that gets narrower at the top; you’ll never get your bamboo out without breaking it.

Root barriers

Your best bet is probably a high-grade root barrier. You can order a heavy-duty plastic barrier and bury it around the perimeter of your bamboo area. This can be a very reliable system, but it’s not foolproof. Be sure to get the barrier at least two feet underground (unless you’re planting a dwarf variety).

Our best recommendation is the DeepRoot Bamboo Barrier, 30″ deep by 100 ft roll., which is available at Amazon.

And keep an eye on it. When they feel the urge to spread out, those monopodial rhizomes can be relentless. If there’s even the tiniest gap in your root barrier, they’ll burrow into it. And if there’s a thick layer of mulch concealing the top of the root barrier, the roots might easily crawl over it.

A lot of times, people move into a house and inherit someone else’s poorly planned bamboo garden. This could require some serious work to remove masses of roots. You can do some very heavy root pruning in this case, and then try to install a root barrier. But sometimes you just have to go Rambo: Dig a trench and fill it with concrete.

Root pruning

One of the most important things you can do to keep a running bamboo under control is simply to monitor it closely. Dig around the base of the plant a couple of times a year and see what’s happening. You can’t always tell just by watching what the bamboo is doing above ground.

When you find bamboo rhizomes racing away from the main grove, cut them back. If you’re dealing with a mature and well-established bamboo plant, this could be a serious chore. Make sure you have the right tools, including a good spade, some sharp clippers, and a compact hand saw.

You might even need a Sawsall or other reciprocating saw to really get in there. We recommend Makita’s Cordless Recipro Saw Kit, which comes complete with saw blades and an extra battery and is available for quick delivery from Amazon.

You can also take a look at our recommended list of bamboo gardening tools and supplies.

Containment Trenches

One of the least expensive and most efective ways of controlling bamboo is by digging a containment trench. A narrow ditch, roughly one foot wide and two to three feet deep, is enough slow down those agressive rhizomes and make them clearly visible and easy to prune.

Unlike rhizome barriers, the bamboo will not try to bend around and go underneath the trench. Just keep an eye on it, and take precautions to avoid tripping hazards and twisted ankles.

Frequently Asked Questions About Running Bamboo

Is running bamboo invasive?

Without proper containment, runing bamboo can spread aggressively, and once established it can be difficult to remove. But it’s not invasive in the way that some other plants can be, going to flower every year and casting viable seeds into the wind and contaminating pristine wilderness areas.

Can running bamboo survive winter?

Bamboo is a perenniel grass, meaning that it doesn’t die off after winter. Most running bamboo, unlike the tropical clumping varieties, are very cold-hardy and able to withstand freezing winters with temperatures down to 0° F and below.

How deep do bamboo rhizomes grow?

Bamboo rhizomes are vigorous and tenacious, but they don’t grow especially deep. Depending on the size of the species, most rhizomes will only go two or three feet below ground.

What is the fastest-growing running bamboo?

Bamboo’s growth rate depends on the climate and soil conditions, so it’s not easy to say what species grows the fastest. Phyllostachys aurea (Golden Bamboo) and Ph. bissetii are known to spread very agressively. In terms of vertical growth, Henon and Vivax are very fast-growing; and in its native habitat, Moso Bamboo can grow up to 3 feet a day in the growing season.

Can you plant running bamboo in pots?

Yes, running bamboo can be kept in a pot. Just be sure the pot is large enough, and inspect the rhizomes periodically. You made need to repot the plant or divide the rhizomes into multiple plants on a yearly basis.

Is black bamboo a running bamboo?

The most common ornamental variety of balck bamboo is Phyllostachys nigra, a runner. There are a handful of other black and dark brown bamboo species which are tropical with a clumping growth habit.

Further Reading

To learn more about the wonders of bamboo in your garden and around the world, be sure to take a look at some of these other articles.

• How to choose the best bamboo
• Should I plant a bamboo hedge?
• 20 Best Bamboo Gardens in the World
• Bamboo Symbols in Mythology and Folklore

FEATURE PHOTO: Leaping rhizome of Phyllostachys viridis ‘miti’ (Photo by Fred Hornaday)