River Cane 'Tecta'

Arundinaria gigantea 'Tecta', often referred to as Switch Cane, is one of the few bamboos native to North America and is well-adapted to the UK's climate. This particular variety is smaller than the species, usually growing to about 2 metres. It is a tough, colonising bamboo that thrives in wet, boggy conditions where most other bamboos would perish from root rot. It features slender canes and stiff, upright leaves that give it a unique, switch-like appearance. While it is a runner, it is often employed in the UK for sustainable landscaping, especially along pond edges or in rain gardens to prevent erosion. It is fully hardy (H5) and deciduous in very cold winters, but it usually remains semi-evergreen in the UK. It prefers full sun but can tolerate quite a bit of shade. It is an excellent choice for a naturalistic, wilder garden design where it can be allowed to wander slightly near water features. It is very low maintenance once established.

Sun: Full sun to partial shade.

Soil: Wet, heavy, or poorly drained soils.

Hardiness: H5 — down to −15°C.