Tropical Blue Bamboo, Delivered and Planted in SW Florida
Tropical Blue is a clumping bamboo whose new canes carry a powdery blue coat, and it grows very fast in SW Florida, making a tall privacy screen that stays in its clump instead of running. It wants sun, regular water and room to reach 15 to 35 ft. Our crew delivers and plants 25 gallon clumps.
- Light:
- Full sun to part shade
- Water:
- Moderate; regular water the first year, then deep soaks through the dry season
- Salt:
- Low to moderate; keep out of direct salt spray
Bamboo Tropical Blue 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 Tropical Blue | 25 Gallon |
Bamboo Tropical Blue in SW Florida, at a glance
- Mature size here
- 15 to 35 ft tall; the clump widens slowly each year and does not run
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Moderate; regular water the first year, then deep soaks through the dry season
- Salt tolerance
- Low to moderate; keep out of direct salt spray
- Cold tolerance
- Hardy to about 20°F; a hard freeze may burn leaves but the canes survive, and SW Florida rarely gets that cold
- Growth rate
- Very fast once established
- Spacing
- 6 to 8 ft apart for a privacy screen
- Florida native
- No
- Botanical name
- Bambusa chungii
Where Bamboo Tropical Blue works in a SW Florida yard
Tropical Blue works as a living wall along a property line, behind a pool cage or at the back of a large bed, planted 6 to 8 ft apart. The blue cast shows most on new canes and stands out against a dark background.
Keep clumps at least 10 ft from the house and pool deck so the base has room to widen. Ornamental ginger, bromeliads and ti plants fill in at its feet.
- Tall privacy screen
- Property-line living wall
- Specimen clump
How our crew plants it
Set the 25 gallon root ball level with the soil, backfill with the existing soil, build a watering ring and mulch 3 to 4 inches deep. Our crew handles the depth, waters it in and cleans up.
New plantings get extra watering under Lee and Collier rules, so keep it soaked for the first couple of months, then taper to your assigned days.
Care after planting
- Keep a thick layer of mulch and fallen leaves over the roots, since bamboo roots are shallow and the clump feeds on its own leaf litter.
- Water deeply through the dry season, November to May, because a dry clump thins out and drops leaves.
- Feed in spring and early fall with a slow-release fertilizer, and stay off nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer from June 1 to September 30, the Lee County, Naples and Marco Island ban window.
- Cut out the oldest, weakest canes at the base each year to keep the clump open and show off the blue on the newer ones.
- Expect leaf drop in late winter and spring, with new leaves following within weeks.
What to watch for
- Bamboo drops a lot of leaves in late winter and spring, so plan to rake or leave the litter as mulch, especially near pools.
Bamboo Tropical Blue questions we hear
How fast does Tropical Blue bamboo grow?+
Very fast once it is established. New canes shoot up in the rainy season, so a screen fills in within a year or two with regular water and mulch. The clump also widens a little more each year, so it keeps getting fuller for a long time.
How far apart should I plant Tropical Blue bamboo for privacy?+
Plant 6 to 8 ft apart for a solid screen that closes in a couple of seasons. Closer spacing fills faster but crowds the clumps, and wider spacing leaves gaps for a few years. Keep the row 10 ft or more from the house, fences and pool decks.
Is Tropical Blue bamboo invasive?+
No. Tropical Blue is a clumping bamboo that grows in a tight clump instead of sending out runners, and Bambusa is not on Florida's invasive plant list. Running types like golden bamboo are the ones that spread. The clump still widens over the years, so give it room.
Updated October 2026
Get a planted price on Bamboo Tropical Blue
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.