Bamboo 'Tsuboi'

This is a charming, small to medium-sized bamboo that is highly valued for its beautifully variegated foliage. Each leaf is finely streaked with cream and white, creating a bright, silvery-green effect from a distance. It has a dense, bushy habit, making it perfect for low hedging or as an architectural groundcover in UK gardens. Unlike the more common dwarf variegated bamboos, 'Tsuboi' is slightly taller and more refined in its growth. It is a running bamboo, but it is generally less aggressive than others in its genus, though a root barrier is still wise in small spaces. It is fully hardy (H5) and performs best in partial shade, where the white variegation is protected from sun-scorch. It tolerates a wide range of soil types as long as they stay relatively moist. Pruning back hard in early spring can encourage fresh, more brightly variegated growth.

Sun: Partial shade.

Soil: Any moist, well-drained soil.

Hardiness: H5 — down to −15°C.