Alphonse Karr Bamboo, Delivered and Planted in SW Florida
Alphonse Karr is a clumping bamboo with golden canes striped in green, and it does very well in Southwest Florida. It grows fast, stays in a tight clump instead of running, and makes one of the quickest privacy screens you can plant here. Give it full sun to part shade, steady water and room to widen. We deliver it, plant it and clean up.
- Light:
- Full sun to part shade; the golden canes color best in good sun
- Water:
- Moderate to regular; keep it steadily moist while it establishes and through the dry season
- Salt:
- Low to moderate; fine with a light breeze, not for open-water exposure
Bamboo Alphonse Karr sizes we deliver and plant
Every size below is planted by our crew, set at the right depth and watered in. Send the size and how many, and we text back a planted price, usually within the hour during the day.
| Plant | Sizes |
|---|---|
| Bamboo Alphonse Karr | 7 Gallon, 15 Gallon, 25 Gallon |
Bamboo Alphonse Karr in SW Florida, at a glance
- Mature size here
- 15 to 30 ft tall, with a clump that widens slowly to 6 to 10 ft
- Light
- Full sun to part shade; the golden canes color best in good sun
- Water
- Moderate to regular; keep it steadily moist while it establishes and through the dry season
- Salt tolerance
- Low to moderate; fine with a light breeze, not for open-water exposure
- Cold tolerance
- Hardy to about 20°F; frost may brown some leaves, and new growth fills back in
- Growth rate
- Fast; new canes shoot up in the warm, wet months
- Spacing
- 4 to 6 ft on center for a screen
- Florida native
- No
- Botanical name
- Bambusa multiplex 'Alphonse Karr'
Where Bamboo Alphonse Karr works in a SW Florida yard
Plant Alphonse Karr where you want height and a living wall: along a back fence, beside a pool cage, or between your patio and a neighbor's second story. A row of 15-gallon or 25-gallon clumps set about 5 ft apart closes into a solid screen in a few seasons.
Keep it at least 5 ft off fences, walls and pool decks, because the clump keeps widening and sheds a lot of leaves in spring. Philodendron, ornamental ginger and ti plant like the same dappled light at its feet.
- Fast privacy screen
- Living fence along a property line
- Tropical backdrop for pools
- Golden accent clump
How our crew plants it
Dig the hole twice as wide as the pot and no deeper than the root ball, because bamboo roots stay shallow. Set the top of the ball level with the soil, backfill with native soil and build a low berm to hold water. Mulch 2 to 3 inches deep, off the canes.
Water in well, then every day or two for the first few weeks, tapering toward your assigned days; Lee and Collier allow extra watering for new plantings. Our crew sets it at the right depth, waters it in, and cleans up.
Care after planting
- Water deeply through the November to May dry season, because bamboo rolls its leaves when it runs short.
- Feed in spring and again in early October with a slow-release fertilizer, and skip nitrogen and phosphorus from June 1 to September 30 under the Lee County, Naples and Marco Island ban.
- Leave fallen leaves under the clump as mulch, and rake them off pool decks and lawns.
- Cut out dead or crowded canes at the base each winter, and top canes if you want to cap the height.
What to watch for
- Running bamboos such as golden bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea) are on Florida's invasive plant list, but Alphonse Karr is a clumper that stays put and is not listed.
- Spider mites and scale show up on stressed bamboo, mostly in the dry months, and a steady watering schedule keeps them down.
Bamboo Alphonse Karr questions we hear
How fast does Alphonse Karr bamboo grow in Florida?+
Fast. A 15-gallon or 25-gallon clump can close into a screen within a few seasons when it gets steady water and sun. New canes come up in the warm, wet months, and each flush is usually taller than the last until the clump reaches its full height, which can take several years.
How far apart should I plant Alphonse Karr bamboo for privacy?+
Plant clumps 4 to 6 ft apart, center to center, for a solid screen. Closer spacing knits sooner, and wider spacing leaves you with separate clumps instead of a wall. Keep the row at least 5 ft off fences, walls and pool decks so the clumps have room to widen.
Is Alphonse Karr bamboo invasive?+
No. It is a clumping bamboo that widens slowly from the base and does not send runners across the yard. Running types like golden bamboo are the ones on Florida's invasive plant list. A clump still gets wider over the years, so leave room, but you do not need a root barrier.
Does Alphonse Karr bamboo handle salt spray on a canal lot?+
It handles a light salt breeze but not heavy spray. Leaf tips burn where wind carries salt off open water, so it works better on the sheltered side of a canal or Gulf-access lot than at the water's edge. Inland yards in Cape Coral, Fort Myers and Lehigh Acres suit it well.
How much water does new bamboo need under Lee and Collier rules?+
Water new bamboo every day or two for the first few weeks, then taper toward your two assigned days. Lee and Collier allow extra watering on new plantings while they establish, so use that window. Once established, deep soaks on your assigned days plus a thick mulch layer carry it through the dry season.
How much does it cost to have Alphonse Karr bamboo planted?+
Price depends on size, form and how many, so we text you a planted price instead of listing one. Tell us how long the screen needs to be and which pot size you want. We usually reply within the hour during the day, and half down holds the plants and a delivery day.
Updated October 2026
Get a planted price on Bamboo Alphonse Karr
Tell us what and how many. Quinten prices it from the nursery's live list and texts you back, usually within the hour during the day.
Only need the plant delivered, no planting? It is on our nursery's list at Palm & Plant Co.
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See it in 3D first
We deliver and plant across Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples, Estero, Bonita Springs and about an hour around.