Page snapshot: Quick facts about baby bamboo grass, a small ornamental grass.
Topics covered on this page: What is baby bamboo grass?; Where is baby bamboo grass from?; How is baby bamboo grass grown?; How is baby bamboo grass used?; What are the benefits and drawbacks of baby bamboo grass?; Resources.
Credits: Funded by the National Science Foundation. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. Page by Deme Burns (2023).
Updates: Page last updated August 7, 2023.
Image above: Baby bamboo grass (Pogoatherum paniceum) Miami, Florida, U.S.A. Photo by David J. Stang (Wikimedia Commons, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license. Photo resized.)
What is baby bamboo grass?
Baby bamboo grass (Pogonatherum paniceum) is a species of ornamental grass that is also called baby bamboo or baby panda bamboo. While it is commonly referred to as baby bamboo due to the fact that it looks bamboo-like, this grass is not a true bamboo (true bamboos are in subfamily Bambusoideae of the Grass Family).
Baby bamboo is small, compact, and clumping. It has narrow, feathery foliage. The stems have an elegant arching habit, which gives the grass a pleasing appearance. It can reach 2 feet (0.6 meters) tall. Baby bamboo is often used in small gardens, pots, or borders as a decorative plant. It can also be used as a ground cover due to its manageable size.
A close up of baby bamboo grass in its natural habitat. The long, slender leaf blades can be observed. Nepal. Photo by Krish Dulal (Wikimedia Commons, Creative Commons, Attribution Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. Photo resized).
Baby bamboo grass grows in a small and compact clumping form, as in this cultivated example. Photo by Peter Schmitz (Pl@ntNet, CC-BY-SA)
Where is baby bamboo grass from?
Baby bamboo is native to South and Southeast Asia and the Arabian Peninsula. It is found natively in India, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia, among other countries. It is commonly grown both indoors and outdoors all over the world and has been introduced (meaning, that it can be found growing in the wild) to Sri Lanka and islands off the eastern coast of Africa, such as Madagascar and Réunion.
Baby bamboo, Taiwan. Photo by Liao Hsien Chun (iNaturalist photo 76341591, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International license, photo cropped).
How is baby bamboo grass grown?
Baby bamboo grass is a subtropical grass and, therefore, thrives in warm conditions. It cannot survive cold temperatures and needs to be protected from frost. Baby bamboo can be grown indoors or outdoors in conditions ranging from full sun to partial shade.
Baby bamboo grass is low-maintenance and can grow in many soil conditions. It can be planted directly in the ground or in containers with drainage holes. It requires regular watering and good drainage for healthy growth.
Baby bamboo is compact and has a clumping habit. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami, Florida, U.S.A. Photo by David J. Stang (Wikimedia Commons, Creative Commons, Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.)
Baby bamboo is regarded as elegant and are used in lots of gardens and outdoor landscaping. This example is from a botanical garden in Kraków, Poland. Photo by Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz (Wikimedia Commons, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license. Photo resized).
How is baby bamboo grass used?
In Asia, baby bamboo grass originally was used as fodder but is now more commonly used as a houseplant. Baby bamboo grass is used for ornamental landscaping in gardens, borders, and other areas. Baby bamboo is used as indoor decor, decorating patios, balconies, and small gardens, and as a ground cover to suppress weeds and provide a lush appearance.
Baby bamboo grass grown in a pot and used to decorate indoor or outdoor areas. Photo by Ikai (Wikimedia Commons, Creative Commons, Attribution Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. Photo resized).
Baby bamboo being used to border a sidewalk. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami, Florida, U.S.A. Photo by David J. Stang (Wikimedia Commons, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license. Photo resized.)
What are the benefits and drawbacks of baby bamboo grass?
Baby bamboo grass has aesthetic appeal and is low maintenance, making it easy for busy people or those new to gardening to cultivate. However, baby bamboo grass is not cold tolerant and requires indoor protection in areas with cold winters. Deer and pets may eat baby bamboo grass, leading to damage. While baby bamboo grass has not been listed as an invasive species, growing native plants might be better for wildlife in areas outside of its native range.
Baby bamboo cannot withstand cold temperatures or frost and it will die quickly when exposed. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami, FL U.S.A. Photo by David J. Stang (Wikimedia Commons, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license, photo resized.)
Resources
Websites
Pogonatherum paniceum: Dwarf bamboo (Green Cover Initiative): https://greencoverinitiative.com/leafy-plants/pogonatherum-paniceum-dwarf-bamboo/
Pogonatherum paniceum (PlantIn): https://myplantin.com/plant/6239