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.
Giant Leaf Bamboo
3 Gallon (2-3' tall)
$94.00
Sale price
$94.00
Regular price
Skip to product information
Giant Leaf Bamboo
Indocalamus Tessellatus
$94.00
Sale price
$94.00
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.
- Leaves can be used for cooking (steaming)
- Great choice for shaded area privacy hedge
- Great choice for erosion control
Will it grow in my area?
About & Sizing
Indocalamus Tessellatus 'Giant Leaf Bamboo' is an extremely hardy semi-dwarf species that is great for a privacy screen for 8 to 10 feet. This species is also used in many countries for erosion control along flood plains. It adapts well to all planting sites and grows very well as an under-story species with any of the larger bamboo. The bamboo does best in a shaded site, making it a great option for an indoor container plant.
It has the largest leaves of any bamboo in cultivation in the U.S., they can be up to 26in X 5in and have many uses. For example, Chinese and Japanese have used them in cooking by wrapping food in them prior to steaming. They also are currently being used in floral arrangements.
One of our groves has reached 12 feet in height along the riverside of the grove. It has thousands of rhizomes (roots) hanging over in the water picking up just whatever water it needs throughout our hot summer months. On new plantings, this species will get leaf damage at around 0 to 5 degrees F. On older established groves it will remain evergreen to -10 with very little foliage damage.
- Species
- Indocalamus Tessellatus
- Mature height
- 10 ft
- Mature cane Ø
- 0.5″
- Sunlight
- Shade
- Cold hardiness
- -10°F minimum
- Type
- Running bamboo
Size & Spacing
The plants we ship are starter divisions from established groves — and the larger the size you choose, the bigger its root system and the faster it fills in.
- For a privacy screen, plant on 5-foot centers or closer. Tighter spacing and a bigger starting size give you a solid wall of green sooner — often in 3–5 years.
- For a grove or specimen, give each plant space to spread and show its form.
- Each spring brings taller, thicker canes until the grove reaches mature size. How bamboo grows → · Planting guide →
Care Guide
- Light. At least 4 hours of filtered sun or more. A few large-leaf dwarf species are happy in partial shade.
- Water. Keep the soil evenly moist through the first growing season while roots establish. Once established, bamboo is quite drought-tolerant — just never let it sit in standing water.
- Soil. Not fussy. Neutral pH, well-draining loam with organic matter is ideal, but it grows well in clay too. Roots feed in the top 12″ of soil.
- Growth. New canes shoot each spring (roughly March–May), reaching full height in about 60 days. The grove fills in noticeably after about three full years.
- Feeding. A balanced, time-release fertilizer in spring can speed establishment by a year or more.
- Containing it. Running bamboo spreads by shallow underground rhizomes. Root-prune twice a year, or install Bamboo Shield for a worry-free barrier. How bamboo grows →
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
Will running bamboo spread?
Yes — that's how it forms a screen. It spreads by shallow rhizomes that are easy to direct with twice-yearly root pruning or a Bamboo Shield barrier.
How fast will it grow?
New canes can grow up to 4 feet a day in spring, and the grove fills in noticeably after about three years. How bamboo grows →
When will it green up after planting?
Some leaf drop after shipping is normal. Bamboo is evergreen and pushes fresh leaves in spring as new shoots emerge.
How far apart should I plant for a screen?
Plant on 5-foot centers or closer for a screen in 3–5 years. Closer spacing fills in faster — you can't over-plant bamboo.
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.