What types of bamboo grow in southern ohio?

I live in southern ohio and I was wanting to know what types of bamboo thrive in this type of climate? I am looking for something that will be fast growing, stay green and provide cover all year around, and preferably able to grow tall.

Also what are some good uses for bamboo? I know they are good plants to have around as long as you can keep them under control, I just dont know all the different uses for the plant.


Thanks for your help!

Phyllostachys spp. running bamboos

Sasa kurilensis chishima-zasa bamboo

Semiarundinaria fastuosa temple bamboo

The above are edible. Whats your plant hardiness zone?

hech out this store in Michigan. Let me know if you found any that you like.
http://mibamboo.com/plants.htm

On a lark I ordered some Moso Bamboo (phyllostachys pubescens) seeds on Amazon a few weeks ago. They are supposed to be extremely cold-hardy and grow to 90 feet or something like that, growing a foot per day at peak. I suspect they would need lots of water and fertilizing to even come close to that but it would be amazing to see, both the height and the growth rate. I haven't tried starting them yet.

It could be used as living hedges or screens, or possibly living fences to deter deer if the bamboo is big enough and close enough together. I'd like to grow it to use up water from my future greywater mulch pits. I'd like to then cut and use for making gates or doors for animal pens, or small cages. Also trellises, arbors, patio shading, fence rails, possibly water pipes. And fishing poles, lol. Seriously, it could be used for a lot of things.

There are large swaths of our native canebrake bamboo all over southern ohio. . . from Cincinnati to Steubenville http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arundinaria_gigantea
looks like it enjoys wet acidic soils. . . . i have seen it lining the river banks for miles on ohio river tributaries. . . yellowcreek and the muskingum river

Glenn Underhill wrote:On a lark I ordered some Moso Bamboo (phyllostachys pubescens) seeds on Amazon a few weeks ago.

So did I! I planted mine a few weeks ago and nothing coming up yet. Though I do already have bamboo started in various places around my house already.
These patches I started from root sections I dug up from existing bamboo patches nearby.
Bamboo seeds are not known for high viability, so it might be best to throw a shovel in the car and when you come across a patch, jump out and dig up a few chunks
to bring home.

Cris Bessette wrote:...jump out and dig up a few chunks to bring home.

I've never seen any growing around here! Keep us posted on your seeds.

Here is a link I found with some varieties for ohio:

http://www.gardenguides.com/96378-bamboo-type-plants-found-ohio.html

And an Ohio bamboo grower / company in S.W. Ohio:

http://www.burtonsbamboogarden.com/

Awesome thank you all for the help! We have decided to go with the Moso Bamboo, we will take pics once we have all planted and the little guys are growing! but are open for more suggestions, comments, ect!

N Harris wrote:...We have decided to go with the Moso Bamboo, we will take pics once we have all planted and the little guys are growing! but are open for more suggestions, comments, ect!

Yes keep us updated!

I ordered my bamboo from oregon, perhaps not wise to pay that shipping but i wanted what i wanted.

http://www.bamboogarden.com/

After you look around at this sight a bit at all the pretty bamboo, go to the price page to help ou choose.

I knew i lived in zone 6, my bamboo had to reach two stories tall to shade the sw side of my house, it had to tolerate full sun,....etc. All of this is listed on the price page. I had to go to the individual pages to see how large the canes were, i didnt want thin weeping canes (not enough space). In all honesty, if i could find a local place after I knew my choices I would go there but it is a wonderful place to decide which one you want.