Arrow bamboo is a vigorous evergreen bamboo native to Japan and Korea that grows 12 to 16 feet tall, forming dense thickets of woody, hollow canes clothed in glossy, dark green leaves that taper to pointed tips. Hardy from zones 6 to 9, it spreads by wide-creeping rhizomes and thrives in full sun to partial shade, even tolerating heavy shade in challenging spots. This running-type bamboo rarely flowers, instead earning its place in gardens through year-round structure and lush foliage that makes it exceptional as a hedge or naturalized screen.
Partial Sun
Moderate
6-9
192in H x 300in W
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Moderate
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Dense, glossy foliage and tall upright canes create a striking architectural presence that works equally well as a formal hedge or informal screen. Arrow bamboo tolerates everything from full sun to heavy shade, making it one of the few bamboos flexible enough for difficult corners of your garden. Its evergreen nature means you get year-round impact, and the coarse, lanceolate leaves with their distinctive tapered tips catch light beautifully even in shadier spots.
Arrow bamboo serves primarily as a hedging plant and for naturalizing larger areas, creating dense living screens and structural backbone in garden design. Its tall canes and thick foliage make it particularly effective as a privacy barrier or windbreak in zones 6 through 9.
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“Arrow bamboo originates from Japan and Korea, where it has been cultivated for centuries. Known locally as metake or green onion bamboo, this species has escaped cultivation in North America and naturalized across multiple U.S. regions from the Northeast down the Atlantic coast, a testament to its vigor and adaptability in temperate climates.”