Golden bamboo is an invasive evergreen plant in the grass. family. It can reach heights of 30 feet but more typically it is in the 10-20 foot range. The plant was introduced to AL in 1882 as a landscape plant but has escaped gardens and spread aggressively. Despite efforts to contain it in hardscape, it tends to find a way out. Short swollen internodes bunched at the base of the culms are characteristic of this bamboo. Most canes will have uniformly spaced sections (internodes) as the swollen internode trait only occurs on some canes. Culms (stems) are light green with a white node ring, turning more yellow if exposed to direct sun and with age. Flowers and seeds are rarely produced. The green leaves are up to 6 inches long and often grow in a fan shape alternately on the hollow stems. This plant spreads aggressively by rhizomes and will form large stands preventing native plants to grow. It is listed as invasive in several states, by the NC Invasive Plant Council and several countries in the world. Please consider planting native plants instead. Quick ID Hints: Clump forming bamboo Stems flattened on one side Glaucous ring below each node Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry | Occasionally Wet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in. | Width: 12 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Sheath; Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Leathery; Papery
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Lanceolate leaves are 3-7" long and 2" wide and are hairy at the bases and lower midribs. Leaves have a blade and petiole fused to the stem forming a sheath. Leaves often grow in a fan shape
Flower detail
Rarely flowers. Grass-like blooms if it does.
Fruit type
Caryopsis
Fruit detail
Rarely formed
Stem color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Stem detail
Hollow green culms turn yellow in the sun as they mature and have a white node ring. Some canes have swollen internodes bunched up together at the bottom. Stems are flattened on one side and have a glaucous ring below every node.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
China to Vietnam
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Shoots
Fruit type
Caryopsis
Edibility
Young shoots are edible
Uses (ethnobotany)
Canes used in flooring, making fishing poles, ski poles, javelins, umbrella and fan handles and furniture.
Landscape Use
Garden tags
#bamboo #upright form #fast growing #high maintenance #perennial weed #fantz #non-toxic for cats #non-toxic for horses #non-toxic for dogs #aggressive #ridges #invasive #weedy