Whether to Grow Bamboo in Minnesota - Ask Extension
Should bamboo (not knotweed) be grown in Minnesota? I have a neighbor saying they plan to grow bamboo as a privacy screen between their property and a...
Knowledgebase
Whether to Grow Bamboo in Minnesota #900952
Asked May 11, 2025, 2:01 PM EDT
Should bamboo (not knotweed) be grown in Minnesota? I have a neighbor saying they plan to grow bamboo as a privacy screen between their property and another neighbor’s. Knowing about the invasive noxious weed lookalike, knotweed, the alarm bells immediately went off in my head. If the plant they plan to grow truly is a bamboo species, should that be of concern as well? I’m hoping to keep an open dialogue with them and, if you’d advise it, give some alternative options - perhaps the ones listed on the DNR’s knotweeds fact sheet webpage.
Ramsey County Minnesota
Expert Response
This link will explain how bamboo forms colonies. In other words, it spreads. It is not an acceptable plant. Perhaps you have a code enforcement officer in your area. If your neighbor continues to plan to plant bamboo, perhaps your city officials would be willing to intervene. https://lewisbamboo.com/pages/how-bamboo-grows?gad_source=5&gad_campaignid=<personal data hidden>&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgom2svuhjQMVGkb_AR3a1weXEAAYASAAEgLY1vD_BwE
