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.
Native Rivercane
3 Gallon (4'+ tall)
$105.00
Sale price
$105.00
Regular price
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Native Rivercane
Arundinaria gigantea 'Rivercane'
$105.00
Sale price
$105.00
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.
Will it grow in my area?
About & Sizing
This species is one of two bamboo that are native to the continental United States. It grows to a height of 20 feet with a diameter of 1 inch. It is very adapted to swampy sites and unlike other temperate bamboo it can be planted in areas that do not drain.
This species is the native bamboo and once covered thousand of acres in North America. It is very cold hardy and worth adding to your collection because of its beauty and native status. Adapts well to all sites and even handles erosion problems. It was naturally found along streams and rivers through out the south. Adapts well to swampy and damp planting sites. Gigantea is growing at the Denver Zoo, USDA Climate Zone 5, and has attained .75 inch diameter canes by 6 to 7 feet in height after 12 years of establishment. While it will not mature at the taller heights of warmer climate zones, it makes an excellent short screening bamboo for very cold climate zones in high elevations.
Native American's loved hunting in the 'canebrakes' because they were the hiding grounds of bears, deer, panthers, wildcats, turkeys and other small game. The branches of this bamboo are short, usually much less than 12 inches, stiff, and are initiated before the culms reach full height.
These canes have a broad tolerance for weather and soil. They grow from sea level to 2,000 feet in the Appalachian Mountains. They have been found growing in all types of soil from sandy, rock cliffs and mountain slopes to muck lands and rich alluvial areas of the coastal plains. They can withstand extreme temperatures of -10 degrees to 105 degrees.
- Species
- Arundinaria gigantea 'Rivercane'
- Mature height
- 20 ft
- Mature cane Ø
- 1″
- Sunlight
- Sun to 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.