Family: Poaceae
Common Name: Kuma Bamboo Grass

Native to eastern Asia, these small species of bamboo are all rhizomatous plants. Sprouts come up some distance apart and grow into single, erect stems. Cultivars are available with variations in stem and leaf colours. Suitable for growing in tubs, Sasa may be invasive if left to grow wild.

Species

S. veitchii, dwarf bamboo or kuma bamboo grass, is a small, hardy bamboo, growing to just over 1 m (3 ft). The thick leaves whiten at the margins in autumn. A smaller form, known as minor, is available.

Cultivation

Grow in well-drained soil, in sun or shade. Add compost or manure to the soil before planting. This plant is frost-tolerant. Propagate by dividing clumps in late winter or early spring.

Climate

Zone 8.