There is a common misconception that all bamboos are invasive. The fact is that there are two separate types of bamboo: running and clumping.

Running

Running bamboo sends out rhizomes far away from the plant. This is the invasive type that has given bamboo a bad name. However, running bamboo can be effectively contained with rhizome barrier.

Running Genera: Arundinaria, Chimonobambusa, Phyllostachys, Pleioblastus, Pseudosasa, Sasa, Sasaella, Semiarundinaria

Clumping

Clumping bamboo sends off rhizomes near the base of the plant. Clumping stays to a specified area depending on the plant. This type of bamboo is easily manageable by cutting off the new shoots with a shovel.

Clumping Genera: Bambusa, Chusquea, Denrocalamus, Drepanostachyum, Fargesia, Himalayacalamus, Otatea, Thamnocalamus, Thyrostachys, Yushania