Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Grass
Tender Perennial
Origin
China, Japan
Southeastern Asia, India, Melanesia, Micronesia
Types
Slender Weavers Bamboo, Golden Buddha's Belly Bamboo, Painted Bamboo
Variegata Dwarf, Variegata Chinese Beauty
Number of Varieties
120
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Subtropical climates, Subtropical forests
Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-118-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12 - 9
12-5
Sunset Zone
H1, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
152.40 cm180.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
5.50 cm120.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Red
White, Red, Light Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Multi-Color
Fruit Color
Brown
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Linear
Lance shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Slow
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Average
Bloom Time
-
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Divison
By dividing rhizomes, tubers
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Allow to dry out slightly between watering, Needs 2-3 times watering per week, Requires watering in the growing season, Water Deeply, Water when soil is dry
Requires plenty of water during the growing season
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Less Watering
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Cut the culms, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Cut off the flower stalks at the base of the plant, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, fertilize in growing season
Apply 8-4-6 amount
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
-
Plant Tolerance
-
Drought
Flowers
-
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Medium
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies, Mites
Butterflies
Allergy
Pollen, Rash
Rash
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Bonsai
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin and hair
Good for skin
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Healthy teeth, Pain in gums
Antiulcerogenic, Diuretic, Hypotensive
Part of Plant Used
Sap, Stem
Leaves, Rhizomes
Other Uses
Container, Espalier, Screen, Used in paper industry
Can be made into a herbal tea, Leaves used for wrapping zongi, Used to flavour noodles, Used to wrap mochi rice cakes
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Screening / Wind Break, Topiary / Bonsai / Espalier, Tropical
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
Botanical Name
BAMBUSA ventricosa
ALPINIA zerumbet
Common Name
Buddha's Belly Bamboo, Clumping Bamboo, Ventricose Bamboo
Shell Ginger
In Hindi
बुद्ध के पेट बांस
Shell Ginger
In German
Buddhas Bauch Bambus
Shell Ginger
In French
Le Bamboo Belly de Bouddha
Shell Ginger
In Spanish
De bambú del vientre de Buda
Shell jengibre
In Greek
Κοιλιά Μπαμπού Βούδα
Shell Τζίντζερ
In Portuguese
Bamboo barriga de Buda
Shell Ginger
In Polish
Buddy Belly Bamboo
Shell Imbir
In Latin
Buddha ventre Bamboo
Crusta Ginger
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Lilopsida
Order
Poales
Zingiberales
Family
Poaceae
Zingiberaceae
Genus
Bambusa
Alpinia
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Tribe
Bambuseae
Alpinieae
Subfamily
Bambusoideae
Alpinioideae
Number of Species
1150
1
27800
👆🏻