Native Bamboo Replacement

[chschen]

Hi All,

My boyfriend's mother is planning her landscaping for her new yard and wants to plant bamboo. I know bamboo is not native to our state, and I'm trying to subtly encourage her to use more native plants. Does anyone have any good ideas for bamboo replacements that are native to California and that would not require too much maintenance? I think she likes the way bamboo looks, but I don't know what other reasons she has for wanting to plant bamboo. I appreciate any advice you can give.

Thanks,
Christine

[floracalifornia]

Depending on her region, you might find these brochures from Cal-IPC to be helpful:

http://www.cal-ipc.org/landscaping/dpp/brochures.php

[djkentuckyham]

Hi,

I really couldn't say that there is a clear CA native substitute for bamboo. Still, there are some CA natives that (to me) share certain characteristics with the largest member of the grass family. I would consider genus: Juncus - (Common name(s) Rush)

http://www.laspilitas.com/plants/pla...ve_plant_J.htm

GENUS SPECIES VARIETY COMMON NAME
Juncus acutus ssp. leopoldii Spiny Rush
Juncus balticus Baltic Rush
Juncus dubius
Juncus effusus Common Rush
Juncus leseurii Salt Rush
Juncus macrophyllus Long leaf rush
Juncus occidentalis Western Rush
Juncus oxymeris Pointed Rush
Juncus patens Common Rush
Juncus phaeocephalus phaeocephalus Brown Headed Creeping Rush
Juncus textilis Basket Rush
Juncus xiphiodes Iris Leaved Rush
OR....
Equisetum hymale Horse Tail
http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-...setum-kansanum

hope this helps.