|
| |
Need Privacy? Want Beauty?
Plant
Bamboo!
Fast-Growing, Non-Invasive Clumping & Running Bamboos
Giant to Dwarf Varieties - 30 min. west of Orlando, Florida
BeautifulBamboo.com
at
Bare Lake Farms, 19546 Bamboo Bend Dr.
Groveland, Florida 34736
We
have been collecting and propagating clumping and running varieties of
bamboos at our Central Florida farmstead since 1991. When we
initially purchased the land, very few plants were growing
on our 50 acres. A few small slash pines and scrub oaks provided
only minimal shade and did a poor job of shielding the view of our
neighbor's messy yard. Our original need was for privacy
and since we loved the look, sound, and feel of bamboo, we set about
encircling our property with privacy hedges of the giant grass.
We learned many important lessons through trial and error, extensive
reading, and by speaking with and visiting other bamboo growers in
Florida and around the country.
Now, almost two decades after our
first plantings, our land is surrounded by beautiful groves of bamboo. Some
are 30- to 50-feet tall and still growing bigger year by
year. We also have smaller varieties including a dwarf bamboo
that only grows 3-feet tall. All of our neighbors' yards are now
completely blocked off by clumping and running bamboos planted along
fence lines. Redwing blackbirds and cardinals constantly fly in and out of the
swaying canes. When our youngest son was around 10 he made a secret fort in one
clump of golden bamboo while our oldest son has always enjoyed crafting wind
chimes, furniture, and jewelry out of bamboo canes. Most bamboos also produce edible shoots which are tasty when cooked.
We would like to share our
love of bamboo with you. Take your time browsing through the
information on the different varieties we offer for sale. If you
decide bamboo is a plant you would like to grow, we invite you to come
visit Bare Lake Farms and see for yourself the many bamboo plants at
our Central Florida semi-tropical nursery.
Bare Lake Farms is open by
appointment only, so make sure you call ahead before coming.
Please write or call if you are interested in having bamboos shipped to
you from Florida.
Sherry
and Ralph Boas 352.429.2425
email: Sherry@BeautifulBamboo.com
One of
the first things to decide when you are thinking about planting bamboo
is whether to get clumping bamboo or running bamboo. Clumping
bamboos are similar in growth habit to any shrub. They grow
gradually outward from the center with each new canes growing taller and getting larger in
diameter every year. The most important characteristic of
clump bamboos is that, unlike running bamboos, they do not spread by
sending underground shoots far away from the main plant. A
clumping variety of bamboo is a safe and attractive plant to add to any
landscape. For a privacy hedge, plant clumping bamboos anywhere from 5- to 10-feet apart. Within a few years they will form a
tall, thick green border with towering canes that bend in the breeze.
Unlike clumping bamboos, running bamboos do send shoots away from the mother plant. In some varieties the new shoots will travel only a few inches but in other runners the shoots might travel 10-feet or
more away from the mother plant. While this may present a problem
in certain landscapes, in other situations it is a very positive
characteristic. When planted 3- to 10-feet apart, the growth
pattern of running bamboos enables them to quickly turn into dense and
beautiful hedges. They can be controlled by mowing a wide
(10' to 25') area around the planting bed, with a
bamboo barrier, or by a natural
barrier such as a body of water, a road, or a pasture, which is grazed
or mowed regularly.
In general, runners have a
more upright growth habit than clumpimg bamboos and are a better choice for a
hedge along a tight walkway or narrow drive. Both
clumping or running bamboos will provide a quick impenetrable hedge,
graceful grove, or attractive spot planting.
BAMBOO PRICES
Prices vary depending on rarity of
variety and size of plants:
We have a limited number of 1- to 3-gallon young starts
(1' to 2') as low as $15 to $25 for some varieties.
The most popular size to plant is
the more mature 3-gallon (3' to 8') size which range from $25 to $125 and up
depending on variety and number of canes. These will give quicker
growth from a larger root system which will produce more new shoots the first year.
Some rarer varieties cost from $45
to $150 for a 3-gallon size depending on size and number of canes.
Larger 7-, 10-, 15-, 30- and 50-gallon sizes
with multiple canes are available in limited quantities from $45 to
$600+.
Least expensive varieties are:
Vulgaris, Hawaiian Gold, Hedge Bamboo, Buddha Belly, Golden Goddess, Red and Green
Fastuosa, Red Margined, Arrow, Golden, Yellow Groove
Midrange price: Seabreeze, Oldhamii, Graceful, Asian Lemon, Ladyfinger, Vivax Timber
Rarest, most expensive varieties: Blue,
Black, Sunburst, Angel Mist, Emerald
Quantity prices and custom field dug
plants are available for certain varieties.
Please
call for more information or to schedule a time to visit our Florida
bamboo farm.
Ask
for Ralph or Sherry
Open by Appointment 352-429-2425
|
