Question: I would like to create bamboo planting areas on the western and eastern sides of my house. Both my front and back yards are desert landscaped. Would maintaining bamboo require too much water to have any xeriscape potential?
One of the safest bamboos for you to try is golden bamboo, which can grow quite tall with 1-inch-diameter stems. It is a running bamboo that can spread. Some bamboos are clumping types and do not spread very far. The running type of bamboos can be invasive.
Another choice is the clumping bamboo Alphonse Karr. It is a bit harder to find, but you may locate it on the Internet. It is not as cold tolerant, but should do well here in protected areas.
A very tall bamboo that may do well in some locations is the weavers bamboo, which can be used, as the name suggests, for weaving, and it also is edible. This also is a clumping bamboo, but may sustain some damage during cold winters.
All bamboos have a high water requirement, but could still fit into a xeriscape or mini-oasis landscape. This would be a plant that would be designed for the high-water-use area of a desert landscape. A high-water-use area is located where people congregate and usually is close to the home.
Bob Morris is an associate professor with the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. He can be reached at morrisr@UNCE.unr.edu.
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