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is bamboo illegal in florida

by Rosalia Schumm Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

While bamboo is a popular plant in Florida it is sometimes misunderstood and has a reputation of being hard to contain, which can lead to you not choosing to plant it. The good news is – bamboo is legal to grow in Florida and it is easy to keep your neighbor happy if you choose the right place and species to plant.Jan 2, 2020

Full Answer

Is bamboo allowed in Florida?

While Florida has no specific regulations on bamboo, there are other US states that are debating or have already adopted laws or ordinances regarding the plant. New York was the first state to ban 2 running bamboo species – Golden Bamboo ( Phyllostachys aurea) and Yellow Groove Bamboo ( Phyllostachys aureosulcata ).

Is bamboo illegal in USA?

But no, bamboo is not illegal. However, the idea of outlawing bamboo is not entirely outside the realm of reason. As we will see in the following article, bamboo is mighty plant that can become a force of nature.

Is there a law about bamboo on private property?

A law in this community regulates bamboo growing into public pathways or encroaching on private property. Bamboo growers must keep their bamboo at least 20 feet from the property line. If the bamboo should spread onto someone else’s property, the bamboo owner must have the plant removed at their own expense.

Can bamboo get out of control?

It’s true that some varieties of bamboo can get out of control when they are not properly monitored and contained. Of the 1,200 to 2,000 known types of bamboo, we can generally lump them into one of two categories. There are running bamboos and clumping bamboos.

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Is bamboo considered an invasive species in Florida?

Spread of Golden Bamboo has occurred across the Southeastern United States from Maryland to Florida, Louisiana to Arkansas and Oregon. Florida's Exotic Pest Plant Council has listed Phyllostachys aurea as a Category II invasive.

Is it illegal to grow bamboo in the US?

In fact, the FDA has no restrictions against growing bamboo. The FDA can regulate the import of foreign plants and vegetables for consumption or propagation, but it's a state and local matter to pass laws about where you can or cannot plant bamboo.

Why is running bamboo illegal?

State and local governments are beginning to outlaw bamboo as a nuisance or are regulating how and where it can be planted. Bamboo has often been used as landscape “problem solver.” Certain species of bamboo grow quickly, forming a dense screen that can reach 40 feet or more.

Where is bamboo illegal in the US?

A. New York State bans two varieties of invasive bamboo — golden bamboo and yellow groove bamboo. Commonly known as running bamboo, these varieties grow uncontrollably, spreading onto neighboring properties and reaching enormous heights. A prohibited species cannot be sold, transported or planted in the state.

Can I plant bamboo in my yard?

Bamboo is easy to grow if you select the right species for your yard and climate. In fact, some types of bamboo have a tendency to spread. Hardiness varies by species, but most grow well in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 and 6, advises Heritage Garden.

Why you should not plant bamboo?

Bamboo can be an invasive threat to biodiversity. Bamboo that spreads and escapes your yard may cause ecological problems as well. Many spreading bamboo species are categorized as invasive exotic plants that crowd out native plants and threaten biodiversity.

How do I keep my neighbors bamboo from spreading?

Because it's virtually impossible to stop bamboo from spreading, the American Bamboo Society recommends installing a concrete or fabric barrier that works like an underground fence. Also recommended is a trench 18 inches deep and 12 inches wide filled with small pebbles or pea gravel.

Do bamboo trees attract snakes?

Do bamboo plants attract snakes? Bamboo drop a lot of leaves and some snakes might find that a good hiding place or an area to hunt for mice, but snakes are not attracted to the bamboo alone.

Should I plant bamboo for privacy?

Bamboo is a great plant for visual privacy screens or evergreen hedges because it has a relatively small footprint, it's tall, it's alive and it grows fast, produces oxygen and sequesters carbon, and to top it off, it's beautiful.

How do I control bamboo in my yard?

Stop bamboo from spreading by installing a sub-surface barrier. Using a subsurface barrier or root barrier to stop bamboo spreading is one of the most common methods. ... Sever the rhizomes to stop bamboo from spreading. ... Stop bamboo from spreading by growing in a pot. ... Use a chemical weed killer – as a last resort.

Can you grow bamboo to sell?

With the right kind of timber bamboo, you can produce a commercial crop and sell the poles like lumber, the shoots for food, or the biomass for fuel.

Why is bamboo so invasive?

Many gardeners consider bamboo to be invasive because of its vigorous rhizome root system. These rhizomes allow many varieties of bamboo to expand quickly. But bamboo only expands in a local setting.

Can you Grow Bamboo in Florida?

Many people are of the opinion that bamboo growing in Florida is illegal, when in fact it is completely legal to grow it in this state.

What are Florida Bamboo Laws?

If you look at the Florida Noxious Weed List you will find that Bamboo is not on the list, making it legal to grow in the state.

Is it Easy to Grow Bamboo in Florida?

Yes, it is relatively easy to grow bamboo in Florida. Most plants do well in moist soil which is well draining. Bamboo is not fussy about the soil type although they do not like wet and boggy soils. They do much better in acidic soils.

What Types of Bamboo Grow Well in Florida?

Below are three clumping types of bamboo, all of which grow exceptionally well in Florida.

When Should Bamboo be Planted in Florida?

Spring is the best time when planting bamboo in Florida, so aim for planting between March and June.

How to Control your Bamboo

There is basically only one way to control bamboo, and this is by pruning or removing the rhizomes which are found below the ground. Simply removing anything above the soil will only encourage further growth.

How to get Rid of Bamboo

While bamboo is not that hard to get rid of, it can be physically hard as there are miles of roots.

What happened to the bamboo problem in Lower Merion?

In Lower Merion, an unlucky couple bought a piece of property from someone who failed to disclose an existing bamboo problem on the land . Apparently, an unusually vigorous stand of Phyllostachys aureosulcata had gotten well out of control, spreading all over the neighbor’s property.

How many types of bamboo are there?

It’s true that some varieties of bamboo can get out of control when they are not properly monitored and contained. Of the 1,200 to 2,000 known types of bamboo, we can generally lump them into one of two categories. There are running bamboos and clumping bamboos.

How far away from property line can you grow bamboo?

A law in this community regulates bamboo growing into public pathways or encroaching on private property. Bamboo growers must keep their bamboo at least 20 feet from the property line. If the bamboo should spread onto someone else’s property, the bamboo owner must have the plant removed at their own expense. Again, the law does not identify specific varieties of bamboo.

How big is a bamboo plant?

Not only do these types of bamboo have a vigorous root system, but some species can also be very large, with individual culms reaching 50 or 80 feet tall and getting 4 or 5 inches in diameter. And the hardness of bamboo rivals that of oak or maple. Combine these impressive characteristics in a single plant, and you have an organism that’s virtually unstoppable.

What is a running bamboo?

Running bamboos have what’s called a leptomorphic rhizome root system, which will sprawl out endlessly, and in some cases quite aggressively. Another botanical term for these running rhizomes is monopodial. This is in contrast to the clumping bamboos, which have pachymorphic or sympodial rhizomes.

When did hemp become illegal?

Cannabis hemp effectively became illegal in 1937, and remained illegal until 2018. The use of industrial hemp was gaining great popularity as a cottage industry back in the 1990s and early 2000s, but sort of tapered off in the last decade. The 2018 Farm Bill finally made it legal to grow help nationwide.

Is bamboo invasive in New York?

NEW YORK STATE. The State of New York has banned two of the most invasive species of bamboo, namely Golden bamboo ( Phyllostachys aurea) and Yellow groove bamboo ( Phyllostachys aureosulcata ). New York has a directory of Regulated and Prohibited Invasive Plants, issued in 2014, which identifies these two bamboo species ...

How long does it take for bamboo to grow?

Because those new canes are powered by a year's worth of stored energy, they grow at breakneck pace, reaching their full height in six to eight weeks. On a mature patch of bamboo, "full height" is whatever the maximum height is for that variety.

How tall is a bamboo patch?

On a mature patch of bamboo, "full height" is whatever the maximum height is for that variety. A fifty foot tall mature Royal or Buddha's Belly bamboo sends of new canes that emerge from the ground looking like torpedoes, and those shoots rocket upward, reaching fifty feet in eight weeks.

Can you grow bamboo in Florida?

Bring the exotic splendor of BAMBOO to your landscape. In Florida, we are blessed with a climate that allows us to grow some of the best of the world's bamboo varieties. You can grow towering giants with canes the size of soup cans for a stunning highlight to your garden, mid-size types for elegant privacy hedges to screen your backyard oasis ...

How deep should a bamboo barrier be?

The barrier shall be installed at least 30 inches deep; At least three inches of the barrier must protrude above ground level around the entire perimeter of the bamboo; The barrier shall slant outward from bottom to top.

Can you get fined for a bamboo plant?

Bamboo Ordinances, Don’t Get Fined. With rising complaints and concern over invasive bamboo species, many municipalities across the United States have began imposing fines for those who choose to let the bamboo on their property grow rampant. Read the list below tomake sure you are not violating the law.

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Why Would They Make Bamboo Illegal?

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It’s true that some varieties of bamboo can get out of control when they are not properly monitored and contained. Of the 1,200 to 2,000 known types of bamboo, we can generally lump them into one of two categories. There are running bamboos and clumping bamboos. Clumping bamboos tend to keep a relatively s…
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Examples of Regulations and Laws Against Bamboo

  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture has listed golden bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea) as an invasive species on the federal government website. This is one of the fastest growing species of bamboo, and definitely one to keep an eye on. All members of the genus Phyllostachys are running bamboos, and unlike a lot of tropical and subtropical varieties, Phyllostachysplants are …
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Plant Regulations and Prohibition in The U.S.

  • It would be somewhat ironic for bamboo prohibition go into effect in America. Cannabis hemp effectively became illegal in 1937, and remained illegal until 2018. The use of industrial hemp was gaining great popularity as a cottage industry back in the 1990s and early 2000s, but sort of tapered off in the last decade. The 2018 Farm Billfinally made i...
See more on bambubatu.com

Further Reading

  • If you’ve enjoyed reading about the legal status of bamboo, please consider subscribing to our mailing list. You might also want to check out some of these other popular articles. 1. Running bamboo: Why must you run? 2. Bamboo containment and abatement 3. Notorious runners: the most invasive bamboo species to avoid 4. The most popular species of bamboo 5. Hemp vs. Ba…
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