From Grove to Garden
Take a behind-the-scenes look at how we grow and ship bamboo at Lewis Bamboo — carefully dug, containerized, watered, grown, and packaged so healthy, ready-to-plant bamboo arrives at your door.
Alphonse Karr
2 Gallon (3'+ tall)
$80.00
Sale price
$80.00
Regular price
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Alphonse Karr
Bambusa multiplex 'Alphonse Karr'
$80.00
Sale price
$80.00
Regular price
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Healthy-arrival guarantee
If your bamboo arrives damaged or unhealthy, we'll make it right with a replacement or refund — backed by 30+ years of growing experience.
- Drought tolerant once established.
- Great option for narrow planting areas.
- Excellent choice for hedges and tall screens.
Will it grow in my area?
About & Sizing
The Bambusa Multiplex 'Alphonse Karr' bamboo, commonly referred to as the 'Alphonse Karr', is a strikingly beautiful clumping bamboo variety noted for its vibrant and uniquely colored culms. Native to China, this bamboo has become a favorite choice for many garden enthusiasts and landscapers around the world, particularly for those looking to add a splash of color and texture to their outdoor spaces.
Key Features:
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Culms: What truly sets 'Alphonse Karr' apart are its distinctive culms. These are bright golden-yellow with irregular, intermittent green stripes. The color of the culms deepens to a reddish hue when exposed to direct sunlight, creating a stunning visual contrast.
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Size: Typically, 'Alphonse Karr' reaches heights between 20 to 25 feet, with a culm diameter of about 1 inch. This moderate size makes it adaptable to various garden spaces.
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Growth Habit: Being a clumping bamboo variety, 'Alphonse Karr' grows in dense clusters, with a non-invasive root system. This ensures that the bamboo won't spread uncontrollably, making it a great choice for urban gardens or areas where space is a concern.
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Foliage: The leaves of the 'Alphonse Karr' bamboo are slender and vibrant green, which beautifully complement the colorful culms, adding to the plant's overall ornamental appeal.
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Versatility: Its aesthetic appeal combined with its non-invasive growth habit makes it ideal for various landscaping uses, from privacy screens and hedges to solitary focal points in gardens.
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Hardiness: 'Alphonse Karr' is a hardy bamboo, able to withstand temperatures as low as 18°F (-8°C). It is best suited for USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 11.
Care and Maintenance: 'Alphonse Karr' prefers well-draining soil and benefits from regular watering, especially during its establishment phase. It thrives in full sun but can tolerate partial shade. Given its vibrant culm color, placing it in an area where it gets ample sunlight can help accentuate its beauty. Pruning can be done as necessary to shape the plant or control its height.
In conclusion, Bambusa Multiplex 'Alphonse Karr' offers both practicality and ornamental beauty, making it a highly sought-after bamboo variety. Its vibrant and uniquely colored culms can elevate any garden's aesthetic, turning it into a lively, tropical haven.
- Species
- Bambusa multiplex 'Alphonse Karr'
- Mature height
- 25 ft
- Mature cane Ø
- 1.5″
- Sunlight
- Sun to Shade
- Cold hardiness
- 18°F minimum
- Type
- Clumping bamboo
Size & Spacing
The plants we ship are starter divisions — the larger the size, the sooner the clump fills out.
- Clumpers don't run, so plant for the clump's mature width (shown on this listing). For a screen, set plants so their grown clumps will just touch.
- Slow and well-behaved is the point. A clump widens gradually from the base and stays exactly where you put it — no rhizomes to chase.
- New canes rise from the central clump each year until it reaches full size. Clumping vs. running → · Planting guide →
Care Guide
- Light. At least 4 hours of filtered sun or more. A handful of large-leaf dwarf species prefer partial shade.
- Water. Keep the soil evenly moist through the first season while roots establish; once settled it's quite drought-tolerant. Never let it sit in standing water.
- Soil. Easygoing — neutral pH, well-draining loam is ideal, but clay works too. Roots feed in the top 12″ of soil.
- Growth. Clumpers reach mature size more gradually than runners, sending up new canes from a tight central clump.
- Feeding. A balanced, time-release fertilizer in spring supports faster, fuller growth.
- Containing it. Clumping bamboo does not run — it widens slowly from the base, so it needs little to no containment. Just leave room for the clump to reach its mature width. Clumping vs. running →
Container & Planter Info
Bamboo thrives in large containers with good drainage — perfect for patios, balconies, and defining outdoor spaces.
- Pick a hardier plant. Containers don't insulate roots the way the ground does. For year-round pots, choose a species rated a zone or two colder than your area.
- Go big. A larger container means more root room, more insulation, and faster growth. Make sure it has drainage holes.
- Water more often. Potted plants dry out faster — check soil moisture regularly, especially in summer.
- Refresh every few years. Top-dress, or divide and repot, once the roots fill the container.
How It Arrives
Your plant ships nursery-fresh from our family-run farm — an established, well-rooted division (never a fresh-dug start), carefully packed to travel safely.
- On arrival, unbox right away, give it a good drink, and let it settle in a sheltered spot for a few days before planting. Planting instructions →
- A little leaf drop or yellowing is normal after shipping — bamboo is evergreen and flushes fresh leaves each spring.
- Healthy-arrival guarantee. If your plant shows up in poor shape, we'll make it right. See our guarantee →
FAQs
Does clumping bamboo spread?
Not the way running bamboo does. It expands slowly outward from a tight clump, gaining a few inches of width a year — easy to keep in place. See how they compare →
How wide will the clump get?
It depends on the species — check the mature size on this listing and give the clump room to fill in.
Will it grow in my area?
Use the growing-zone tool in the header (or the "Will it grow here?" panel above) to check this plant against your zone.