Garden Features

Bamboo Garden

Next to the Rhododendron Dell, the Bamboo Garden is of interest throughout the year - the graceful stems and leaves of the bamboos contrasting with the coarse but exotic fan-like leaves of the Chusan palm. Over 120 individual specimens of hardy bamboo exist in this area brought together from regions all over the world. Specimens can be seen from China, Japan and the Himalayas, to the American continents.

The first bamboo collection at Kew was developed under the supervision of its Director, Sir William Thiselton Dyer, with the first plants being planted near to the Temperate House.

These were transplanted by William Bean, who later became Curator of the Gardens, to a specially designed area near the River Thames. This was the start of the bamboo garden that was formally laid out on its present site in 1891.

Today the Garden is arranged to aesthetically maximise the variety of forms and leaf shapes of the bamboos. The combination of giant pole-like bamboos, wispy variegated species and fountain-like cascades of pendulous varieties is a sight any visitor will find appealing and inspiring. Evergreen and hardy bamboos can be seen in all seasons, giving the Bamboo Garden year-round interest.

Bamboo is notorious for its spreading underground roots which can become quite a problem, particularly in a small garden. To help prevent this, barriers are used within the Bamboo Garden: what first appears to be unsightly black plastic sticking above the ground is actually well-designed barriers to keep the bamboo from becoming invasive.

This collection at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew plays a valuable role in the classification of Bamboo within the Grass family (Poaceae), allowing specialists to observe the various stage of growth. Many species of bamboo are also threatened in their natural environment due to the impact of the human population, industry and agriculture. One particular species known for its prominent nodes, Qiongzhuea tumidinoda, is often used in the manufacture of walking sticks. This over-exploitation linked with the other threats means that this species is close to extinction in its natural environment.

Other less hardy bamboo can be see in the Palm House.

The Bamboo Garden is number 5 on the Visitor Map.