Is golden bamboo clumping or running?
First – you need to make sure you know the botanical name of the bamboo you’re looking at. There are hundreds and hundreds of kinds, and I wouldn’t doubt that more than one is called “golden bamboo”, though they are different varieties. Just like there are about 14 different plants in the world referred to as “bluebell”, although they are different plants. If you’re looking at Phyllostachys aurea, it is a runner. If you don’t mind putting in the work of containment before you plant, it’s easy enough to control. Just check for anything trying to jump the border each fall is about all you’d need. Installing the containment is no picnic…you need to go down 2 1/2, 3 feet, and use thick pond liner, or concrete. But once it’s done, you’re good for years to come.
