Bamboo muhly or Mexican weeping bamboo? Both!
Although its stems and feathery leaves resemble bamboo, bamboo muhly (Muhlenbergia dumosa ) is a 4-to-5-ft-tall clumping grass native to Arizona. I use it lavishly in my gardens because I love the way it catches the light and the breeze, and it’s hardy in full sun or part shade with low water needs.
A closer look
Similar in form, Mexican weeping bamboo (Otatea acuminata aztecorum ) is a tall clumping bamboo native to central Mexico. Otatea is a non-threatening bamboo that doesn’t run into the neighbors’ yards, and it’s a stunning specimen plant that tolerates dry soil when established. Its arching culms (stalks) echo the bamboo muhly, only giant-sized.
Here’s a big culm pushing its way up. I’ve never tried a bamboo before, and I’m amazed by its rate of growth. I bought this as a 3-ft-tall plant only a few months ago and promptly divided it. Now it stands at about 7 feet. Ultimately it can reach 15-20 feet!
I’m getting out of its way.
All material © 2006-2009 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
LOL — are you QUITE sure that’s the right kind of bamboo?
Quite sure, Chookie. I’ve seen Mexican weeping bamboo growing in gardens throughout Austin, and although it gets tall and full, it doesn’t run. The growth rate IS amazing though. —Pam
Pam,
I love bamboo, but I’ve always been scared of it. I’m interested in Otatea, keeps us updated on it regularly. I tried the gorgeous black bamboo once, but I was rooting it and failed to keep it watered so it didn’t make it.
Black bamboo IS very beautiful, but I am pretty sure it’s a runner, so I’d only consider growing it in a container. And you’re right that it does need regular water. Until recently I’d never even heard about clumping bamboos, but lately I’ve been coveting several different kinds. This is the most drought-tolerant one I’ve heard of though, which helped decide me. —Pam
Pam, It’s a beauty and I followed the link to see even more photos. I love the architecture presence it makes in a garden….it’s not hardy in Nashville, so I’ll enjoy it from afar. gail
There are many lovelies in your garden that I enjoy from afar too, Gail, so let’s consider it a fair trade. 🙂 —Pam
Pam, I really hope it’s the right kind of bamboo. My neighbor in Houston had bamboo that was 25 feet high that spread under the fence etc. I asked my landscaper what to do with it and he said “gasoline, burn it down”. I even offered to take it out at my expense but my neighbor’s wife liked it. Go figure. Good luck! 🙂
I’m not afraid—not yet anyway. 😉 This is a beautiful bamboo that I’ve admired in several gardens around Austin, including Jill Nokes’s and Scott Ogden’s, and it forms a large clump but doesn’t run. I’m eager to have a full-sized specimen shielding my view of my neighbor’s pool pump. —Pam
They are both beautiful and would be great outside my back fence … I think I will watch yours grow for a little and then decide!
The Mexican weeping bamboo will probably need more irrigation than the bamboo muhly, so I’d save it for a location closer to the house, Diana. But the bamboo muhly is deer resistant and would work great out there, I bet. —Pam
We have some neighbors that have a front “hedge” of Mexican bamboo and it is stunning!
I’d love to see a picture of that, Sheila. —Pam
Just gorgeous-glad to see your “division” was so successful. I have my bamboos still in pots-waiting to go into the new garden in 3 months.
I bet you’re ready to start digging, Nicole. I look forward to seeing your new garden in a few months. —Pam
Have you grown the bamboo before? That growth speed would scare me a bit. We had a short running bamboo (told it was not a runner and it took it about four years before it suddenly went wild) and it took forever to get it out of the border. I did add another bamboo this spring but it’s one that I know from experience is OK. Love the bees with the water. Have not seen that around here — at least not yet!
These are some thirsty bees, Linda! I hope you never experience a drought like we’re having. It’s dreadful for plants, animals, and gardeners alike. As for the bamboo, I hope I never experience what happened to you! Getting a runner when you expected a clumper must have been a very unpleasant surprise. I have high hopes for the Mexican weeping bamboo though, and those who grow it in Austin have enthusiastically recommended it. Which bamboo are you growing now? I bet it works beautifully in your midwestern-Japanese garden. —Pam
I love the Mexican bamboo. Do you know where you can buy it in Austin?
Anna, I bought mine at Barton Springs Nursery, and I’ve also seen it at the Great Outdoors. It’s expensive, but I hope it will be well worth it. There’s a segment from “Central Texas Gardener” about this and other bamboos that grow well in Austin, if you’re interested. —Pam
I wish the Mexican weeping bamboo that I have in my garden was more drought tolerant. If it doesn’t receive water at least once a week the leaves curl into itself and eventually drop.
I grow a dozen or so bamboo plants in my zone 9 N.Cal. garden. The most drought tolerant is Bambusa oldhamii. The most water needed is an Indocalamus tessulata (spelling? ) it’s a lush.
I appreciate hearing about your experience with Mexican weeping bamboo and the others you mentioned, Michelle. What kind of sun does your Otatea receive? I’ve seen the giant timber bamboo (Bambusa oldhamii) growing in Philip’s East-Side-Patch garden, and it’s impressively large. I’d love to see pics of your others also. —Pam
I like the way this stuff looks. I’ll have to see if it grows here. I had considered doing a stock tank myself, but I don’t have a good place to put it that would have shade. If I had it out in the open, the water would heat up to 100 degrees or more most of summer. Not so good for any water plants!
Aiyana
Yes, I bet you would have to place your stock tank in some shade, Aiyana. The other trick would be to bank up soil or large boulders against the sunny side of the tank to help keep it cool. A pump would also circulate the water to keep it from getting too hot on top. —Pam
Love the echo there, Pam! As always, your garden is a delight… 🙂
Thanks, Kim. —Pam
I need to explore Muhlenbergia some more. M. rigens and M. capillaris are starting to be planted a lot out here, but yours isn’t one that I’ve seen in person. It looks gorgeous.
It is, James. You need it! —Pam
Those big culms of the bamboo will really make you feel like you are in the tropics while lolling in the pool.
They may, Lisa. A pool makes tropicals seem more natural here, I think. But I still prefer those that can hold their own against drought. I can’t stand having to water every day. —Pam
You certainly make these plants look very attractive to the Texas gardener. Now I wonder where………
I’m surprised you don’t already have bamboo muhly, Jenny. It would go so nicely in your garden as a perimeter or background plant. And I’m sure you’ll find a perfect spot for a Mexican weeping bamboo as well. Do you remember seeing it in Jill Nokes’s garden? Or in Philip’s at East-Side-Patch? —Pam
They’re both lovely graceful plants. I had Bamboo Muhly a few years back and moved it around once too often. I think I need some more!
It’s a lovely grass, Cindy. I hope you can get it to grow for you again. —Pam
That’s a great combo. I’ll have to look for them at nurseries around here.
I’m sure you’ll find the bamboo muhly, Jenn. The Mexican weeping bamboo might be too thirsty for Phoenix, but maybe not. Good luck! —Pam
Both beautiful. Bamboo muhly is great filler in floral work!
I bet it would be. The light shines through it so beautifully, and the fine texture is wonderful. —Pam
Hi Pam! I TOTALLY agree with you – BOTH!
I have been using Otatea acuminata in Southern California for about 15 years, and I am a HUGE fan of this amazing, clumping, drought tolerant bamboo! Your readers who are considering it for their gardens shouldn’t fear – it does NOT run – but it does push up some impressive culms over time, and will clump into a generous size if you let it. The difference between it and say – Phyllostachys nigra (the black bamboo – a beauty, but I’d never plant it again!) is that you can predict where it will grow and easily control the canes by cutting them off as they emerge. I’ve just planted 5 in my garden and wish I’d done it years ago!
As for its drought tolerance. I observe that it looks best when given frequent small waterings after it’s established, rather than soaking and drying out between waterings. It is native to the hot, humid areas of Mexico and Central America that have extended dry periods, but the humidity is always high – I try to re-create that condition with a small burst of irrigation every two days. it seems to work very well, even in our hot dry summers. Clients and friends who’ve have this bamboo for years LOVE IT!
I need to use more Muhly! You have inspired me to do so – I’ll add it to my garden right away and rock it Pam style!
XOXO!
You always have such good advice and helpful experiences to share in your comments, Germi. Thanks for your tip about how to water the Otatea! I’ve been watering my new one that way, and the plant is definitely responding. I’ll remember not to let it dry out once it gets established but give it regular, brief waterings. —Pam
Hmm, I’ll bet that Mexican bamboo would work well in my yard. I’ll have to try to find it when I get to Austin next. I’m quite a fan of bamboo muhly and moved mine from Austin. For the first time since I’ve been here (almost 5 years now) I finally saw it at a local nursery. However, no one was buying it! Guess I should plant some in the front of my house so folks can see how nice it gets!
If you plant your bamboo muhly out front, Jean, you’re sure to sell people on it, especially after it has a year or two to fill out and really get beautiful. —Pam
I really like bamboo muhly. Those are beautiful photos of it. I’m curious, when do you cut it back in Austin?
Never, Ryan. The only pruning I do is to keep the “wild hairs” trimmed off the top, or to make more of a hedge out of it. —Pam
I LOVE bamboo muhly. It lives in our 2-inch clay soil and softens our hard-rock hills with virtually no irrigation. Great disguise for unsightly elements like septic systems because it’s year-round–just turns gold in winter. And deer don’t eat it…doesn’t that make it perfect?
Yes, perfect! Thanks for sharing your experience with bamboo muhly in the Hill Country of central Texas. —Pam
Pam, Like them both but love the stock tank. It has not been warm enough here for a dip in the pool if you can believe that. Enjoy!
I can’t believe it, Layanee. It’s mid-July! If that’s so, then a pool must be a rare sight in Rhode Island gardens. I hope you get some warm and dry weather soon. —Pam
Hi Pam,
To answer your question, my Mexican bamboo receives full morning and early afternoon sun . By the late afternoon it’s in filtered sun.
I’ll try to get out in the garden tomorrow and click off a photo.
Even though I am just 15 miles from San Francisco, the weather is really quite different.
When the city is socked in with cool moist fog it is usually hot, sunny and dry in North Marin.
Have enjoyed the post and all the comments.
Michelle
Thanks for the info, Michelle. —Pam
I recently planted a small mexican weeping bamboo here in Austin and it is doing well, even in this heat and drought, but I am careful to keep it watered. I bought mine online at Bamboo Sorcery out of California. Good stock. Even with the shipping, it was cheaper than anything I could find here in Austin. My big complaint with some of these nurseries here, like Great Outdoors, is that they don’t have much in 1 gallon pots. Not only are those 15 gal things expensive and hard to get home, i can’t dig a hole big enough to plant them. I hit rock about six inches down!! The Natural Gardener has a large selection of 1 gallon plants, but they don’t really carry much bamboo.
Thanks for your observations and the tip about Bamboo Sorcery, Melanie. Enjoy your Otatea! —Pam
Pam,
I was inspired by your first stock tank and a month ago set up a 7′ diameter one on a granite and limestone patio partially shaded by live oaks. My neighbor also got the bug and has two! We paid a visit to Hill Country Ponds to buy plants and gold fish and were able to get free lilies from a guy whose pond was overgrown with them. We helped each other with set up and regularly check on each others water gardens. Good advice about the fertilizer. I would suggest lifting the plant out briefly to put in the stick because mine crumbled and alas I now have a green pond. It is clearing slowly, very slowly. I have heard that using algae remover really messes up the pond for good so I am resisting the temptation to use it. Plus I don’t want to lose all my beautiful fish. Thanks for inspiring Emily and I, we love your blog and our ponds.
Hi, Mari. I love comments like yours. Blogs are great for sharing information, but the comments are equally valuable. I’m glad you shared your experience with the fertilizer tablets.
Congrats on your and Emily’s stock-tank ponds, and I’m glad you’re enjoying them. I love mine too. —Pam
I want! I want! If only I knew where to put any of it. 🙂 ~~Dee