Rhizomatous bamboo (Phyllostachys species)
Also known as:
running bamboo
Rhizomatous bamboos are fast growing plants up to 6 m tall. They outcompete other plants and form dense stands that restrict access through the infestations.
Profile
How does this weed affect you?
Rhizomatous bamboos:
- spread very quickly and become difficult to manage
- outcompete native plants
- form dense thickets that restrict access by people and animals
- can block water flow in drains and other shallow waterways
- produce a large amount of leaf litter that can increase the risk of fires.
What does it look like?
Rhizomatous bamboos are perennial grass plants that grow 2–6 m tall and can live for many years. There are two species that have naturalised in NSW:
- Golden bamboo or fishpole bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea)
- Black bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra).
Leaves:
There are 2 types of leaves.
Foliage leaves grow on branches from the main stem and are:
- are lance shaped
- 7–10 cm long and up to1.5 cm wide (black bamboo)
- 5–15 cm long and up to 2.2 cm wide (golden bamboo)
- veined in a rectangular pattern that is visible from the underside for golden bamboo
- hairless or softly hairy
- on short stalks.
Culm leaves wrap around the stem and are:
- triangular or lance shaped (black bamboo)
- lance shaped (golden bamboo)
- often bend backwards or downwards
- fall quickly, often leaving the leaf sheath attached
Flowerheads:
Rhizomatous bamboo plants rarely flower, sometimes less than once per century. The flowers are in clusters (spikelets) of 1–4 florets, surrounded by small bracts.
Stems (canes) are:
- yellowish and up to 3 cm in diameter for golden bamboo
- green becoming purple or black as they mature and up to 2 cm in diameter for black bamboo
- upright
- slightly swollen at the joints (nodes) which are up to 20 cm apart
- grooved on the side that has one or two branches, which alternates at each joint.
Roots:
- are dense networks
- have rhizomes, a type of stem that grows just under the surface
- can grow laterally for several metres under sealed surfaces such as concrete.
Similar looking plants
Rhizomatous bamboo looks very similar to some
- Clumping bamboos (Bambusa species) which have parallel veins and round, grooveless stems. The stems are never black.
- Giant reed (Arundo donax), which has much larger leaves (up to 100 cm long and 7 cm wide.
Where is it found?
Golden bamboo has naturalised on the North Coast, Hunter, Greater Sydney, Northern Tablelands, North West and South East regions of NSW.
Black bamboo has naturalised on the North Coast and Greater Sydney Region.
Rhizomatous bamboos are native to China. Golden and black bamboo are found worldwide.
What type of environment does it grow in?
Rhizomatous bamboos grow in temperate areas and tolerate temperatures as low as -20 °C in their native range. They grow quickly and spread more in moist, deep loamy soils. They thrive in full sun and can tolerate shade.
Golden bamboo has been found in NSW in untended areas near gardens, along roadsides and waterways and in urban bushland. It also grows in undisturbed habitats including along stream edges and riparian corridors.
How does it spread?
Most plants are spread by people planting it in ornamental gardens
By seeds
Seeds are rarely produced as some rhizomatous bamboos only flower once per century or less.
By plant parts
Rhizomatous bamboo spreads rapidly with multiple shoots emerging form the rhizomes. Rhizomes can grow under fences, asphalt and concrete for several metres before producing shoots on the other side. This weed spreads to new areas by rhizome fragments in dumped garden waste.
References
Auld, B. and Medd, R. (1987), Weeds: An illustrated botanical guide to the weeds of Australia, Department of Agriculture New South Wales, Inkata Press, Melbourne
CISS (Centre for Invasive Species Solutions) (2021) Weeds Australia Profiles: Phyllostachys spp. . Retrieved 17/04/2023 from https://profiles.ala.org.au/opus/weeds-australia/profile/Phyllostachys%20spp.
County, M. D. (2016). Weed Risk Assessment for Phyllostachys aurea Carr. ex A. & C. Rivière (Poaceae)–Golden bamboo.
Identic and Lucid (2016) Weeds of Australia Phyllostachys aurea Rivière & C. Rivière Retrieved 17/04/2023 from https://keyserver.lucidcentral.org/weeds/data/media/Html/phyllostachys_aurea.htm
Identic and Lucid (2016) Weeds of Australia Phyllostachys nigra (Lodd. ex Lindl.) Munro Retrieved 17/04/2023 from https://keyserver.lucidcentral.org/weeds/data/media/Html/phyllostachys_nigra.htm
PlantNET (The NSW Plant Information Network System) (2021). Phyllostachys aurea C.Rivière & Rivière. NSW Flora Online. Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney. https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Phyllostachys~aurea Retrieved 29/6/2021.
PlantNET (The NSW Plant Information Network System) (2021). Phyllostachys nigra Munro. NSW Flora Online. Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney. https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Phyllostachys~nigra Retrieved 23/7/2021.
More information
Control
Successful weed control relies on follow up after the initial efforts. This means looking for and killing regrowth or new plants. Using a combination of control methods is usually more successful.
Regularly check control sites for regrowth.
Prevention
Do not plant rhizomatous bamboos in gardens without planning to manage the spread.
You can contain plants by planting in pots or by building an underground barrier around plants (especially for golden bamboo) to a depth of 75 cm.
Physical removal
By hand
Plants can be manually removed by digging out the base of the plant and removing all the rhizomes and roots.
By machine
Large infestations can be removed by excavators. Permits may be required if the bamboo is close to waterways or native vegetation.
Disposal
Stems and leaves can be mulched. Contact your local council for further advice on disposal.
Chemical control
Spot spraying
Apply the herbicide mix to actively growing plants. Ensure that all of the foliage is covered with the herbicide.
Cut stump method
Cut each individual stem close to the ground and apply herbicide to the stump within 15 seconds.
In environments where it is safe to do so, cut the stems 20 cm above the ground just below a node, then carefully pour herbicide into hollow stems immediately after treating the top rim of the stump
If leaves regrow from the cut stem, spray the regrowth before it is 50 cm tall.
Herbicide options
WARNING - ALWAYS READ THE LABEL
Users of agricultural or veterinary chemical products must always read the label and any permit, before using the product, and strictly comply with the directions on the label and the conditions of any permit. Users are not absolved from compliance with the directions on the label or the conditions of the permit by reason of any statement made or not made in this information. To view permits or product labels go to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority website www.apvma.gov.au
Users of agricultural or veterinary chemical products must always read the label and any permit, before using the product, and strictly comply with the directions on the label and the conditions of any permit. Users are not absolved from compliance with the directions on the label or the conditions of the permit by reason of any statement made or not made in this information. To view permits or product labels go to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority website www.apvma.gov.au
See Using herbicides for more information.
PERMIT 11916 Expires 30/09/2030
Glyphosate 360 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: 1 part glyphosate to 50 parts water
Comments: Spot spray regrowth at 0.5 m tall. For use in urban bushland, native forests and coastal reserves. See permit for critical comments.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Glyphosate 360 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: 1 L per 100 L of water.
Comments: Spray all of the foliage on actively growling plants between 1 and 2 m tall. Follow label instructions as per Bamboo (Bambusa spp.)
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Glyphosate 360 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: 1 part glyphosate to 6 parts water
Comments: Cut stump method. Cut stems to 20 cm. Pour mixture down stem or wet cut. Follow label instructions as per Bamboo (Bambusa spp.)
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Biosecurity duty
The content provided here is for information purposes only and is taken from the NSW Biosecurity Act 2015 and its subordinate legislation, and the Regional Strategic Weed Management Plans (published by each Local Land Services region in NSW). It describes the state and regional priorities for weeds in New South Wales, Australia.
| Area | Duty |
|---|---|
| All of NSW | General Biosecurity Duty All pest plants are regulated with a general biosecurity duty to prevent, eliminate or minimise any biosecurity risk they may pose. Any person who deals with any plant, who knows (or ought to know) of any biosecurity risk, has a duty to ensure the risk is prevented, eliminated or minimised, so far as is reasonably practicable. |
For technical advice and assistance with identification please contact your local council weeds officer.
Reviewed 2026
