Bisset Bamboo

Phyllostachys bissetii

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 5a-11

Type: Running

Height: Zone 5: 12′ | Zones 6: 18′ | Zone 7: 30’+

Spread: 10’+ with no control

Suggested Spacing: 4 to 6′ apart for hedge or privacy screen

Culm Diameter: 1-2″

Sun: Full Sun or Part Shade

Soil: Average

Growth Rate: Fast

Description

An exceptionally cold hardy bamboo to -15 degrees F, we can safely say that the Bisset Bamboo can be grown as far north as USDA Zone 5 and may survive winters in USDA Zone 4 when mulched heavily. Tolerant to most all planting sites and conditions and also very drought tolerant when established, Bisset is a vigorous grower with dark grey-green canes and very dense, soft textured dark green leaves that make it one of the best selections for a quick and dense evergreen privacy screen in colder climates. In USDA Zone 7 and further south, Bisset can grow 30 feet or a little taller. In Zone 6 plants might reach 18 feet tall. Zone 5 gardeners can expect to to 12 feet in height. As with many other Phyllostachys, canes will develop a golden hue in more sun.

This bamboo is named for David Bisset who was Superintendent of the USDA Plant Introduction Station in Savannah, Georgia from 1924 until 1957

Average Height by USDA Zone

USDA Zone 7-11: around 30 feet in height

USDA Zone 6: around 18 feet in height

USDA Zone 5: around 12 feet in height

USDA Zone 4: around 8 feet in height with foliage kill in severe winter

Landscape & Other Uses

Containers/Pots: Good

Crafts: Good

Edible: Too small

Hedge: Excellent

Indoor: 2 hours minimum sun – PLEASE SEE: How To Grow Bamboo Plants Indoors

Ornamental: Good

Privacy Screen: Excellent!

Wood Quality: Too small

Note: For our customers who live and garden north of USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 5a, where this Bamboo variety is not reliably winter hardy, you’ll be happy to know it can be grown in containers that can be brought indoors during winter and placed back outside when temperatures warm up in spring.

Growing Preferences

Bisset Bamboo will tolerate full sun or part shade and tolerates moist to dry soils. It is exceptionally adaptable and easy to grow!

How To Grow Bamboo Plants Indoors

Bisset Bamboo is a running bamboo, which means it spreads. Bamboo can be controlled in a small area (a normal city yard) simply by mowing or stepping on the young shoots in spring. Keep in mind that running bamboo only puts up new shoots for a short time each year and, when they are “shooting,” the new plants are very fragile and easy to destroy. New shoots of some bamboo varieties can also be used for culinary purposes and cooked, much like asparagus. Root pruning or installing Bamboo Root Barrier are other methods to control spread.

Helpful Articles

Click on a link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant and care for Bamboo plants.

How To Grow Bamboo Plants Indoors

How To Plant Bamboo Plants In The Ground

How To Plant Bamboo Plants In Containers & Pots

How To Fertilize And Water Bamboo Plants

How To Prune Bamboo Plants

How To Stop The Spread Of Bamboo Plants

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These two plants arrived well packaged and alive! Nice and green, a little spindly but that’s what I was hoping for. I hope they will survive our winters, because if they do, I’ll buy more.—————————————————Thanks for the wonderful review! We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Wilson Bros were very prompt to answer any questions I had about the plants before I placed an order. They even sent pictures to my email of the actual plants. The shipping box was very impressive, plants were perfect when they arrived at the time promised.——————————————————————-We are so glad you are pleased with your purchase! Thanks for the kind words and great review! Beth | WBG 🙂

Hello, thank you for the bamboo plant. I have planted it outside in a container and will wait to see how it develops. I appreciate the quick delivery and fast response. So far the plant looks great!—————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG