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Bamboo’s striking, exotic appearance makes it a popular garden feature, but some species can pose serious risks when planted close to structures.
While bamboo is often mistaken for a tree because of its woody culms, it actually belongs to the Poaceae family— the grass family that includes 789 genera and 11,783 species across 12 subfamilies. Within Poaceae, bamboo is classified in the subfamily Bambusoideae, which contains about 1,400 species. In the United States you’ll mainly encounter two groups: clumping bamboo, which grows in tight clusters and is non‑invasive, and running bamboo, which expands aggressively through underground rhizomes and is considered invasive.
Running bamboo’s rapid underground spread can compromise foundations, plumbing, and other structural elements, making it a no‑go if you want to avoid costly repairs.
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Many homeowners and businesses turn to running bamboo for natural walls or privacy screens because of its tall, straight culms— the largest species can reach 70 ft, while most varieties grow between 20 and 35 ft. However, its rhizomes spread rapidly, making containment difficult.
A 2020 study in the Scientific World Journal found some species grow at 2 inches per hour, reaching 60 ft in just three months. A 2019 multi‑university survey reported that running bamboo can spread up to 15 ft per year, and a Guinness World Record species grew 35 inches (nearly 3 ft) per day— an astonishing 0.00002 mph.
These growth rates mean that running bamboo can quickly push its rhizomes beneath a house, threatening foundations, floors, and plumbing as new culms emerge.
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In the UK, The Guardian (2024) reported that bamboo planted in the 1990s and 2000s has begun to invade pavements, asphalt, and even house foundations. One homeowner discovered culms protruding from skirting boards, forcing the removal of floorboards to reveal an extensive network of rhizomes that had spread from a neighbour’s garden undetected for years. The removal cost reached £100,000 (≈$135,428). Similar stories have emerged worldwide.
A 2018 study in the Journal for Nature Conservation assessed 18 running and 29 clumping species using a weed risk assessment tool. The authors concluded that commercial bamboo use should be limited to clumping species to reduce the risk of invasive spread and protect local wildlife.
If you inherit running bamboo, containment is possible. Trenching around the plant and clipping new rhizomes as they emerge is one method; installing a barrier around the trench can further stop rhizome migration.
