Desperately seeking solutions to our brutal summer heat, we tested the “is bamboo drought tolerant?” theory firsthand in our zone 9 garden. Having successfully grown Golden and Black bamboo (as privacy screens) in blazing heat, we now sought the holy grail of cooling shade…. towering heat blocking shade-producing foliage that thrives without copious amounts of water. After much research, we selected both Vivax and Oldhamii to plant in our Central Valley garden. Prior to these plantings, summers meant hiding inside or under ugly shade structures, as overhead sun cooked everything it touched. Both the people and their trusty Adirondack chairs craved the outdoors and the feel of the cool grass, but sat idle without “cover” lest they wilt and wither.

Enter our now nearly 6 year old stand of Vivax and Oldhamii. Watering every other day while their root systems got established, both these bamboos now require only an occasional soak in summer. The vivax, initially consisted of 3 individual plants with 2-4 scrawny four foot culms apiece; it now stands nearly 50 feet tall and blocks the afternoon sun almost completely from our outdoor kitchen (a space that was mostly unusable from July to early September). The Oldhamii, a clumper that started with 5-6 small culms, took the early lead on Vivax by reaching 30 feet of dense shade quickly. Though it’s now slightly shorter in stature than the Vivax (Vivax translates to “vigor” in latin, quite apt!), the Oldhamii is notably denser. This single Oldhamii plant blocks 90+ percent of the BRUTAL late afternoon (the hottest part of the day in a zone 9 summer) low angle sun. Remarkably the nature of bamboo still allows the breezes through, unlike a wall or solid screen. Did we mention our bamboo is not only drought tolerant, but statuesque and stunningly beautiful in a “dry garden” setting. At home with the Olive trees and Lavender, bamboos lush green foliage provides jungle like stature and elegance that many dry climate gardens lack.

Fast forward to today, and we are successfully using smaller bamboos like Aureosulcata Spectabilis to provide “micro-shading” to defined areas that need protection. An outdoor shower mostly utilized in the summer, needed a privacy screen and some sun protection. Enter the magic of bamboo, whose upright nature and dense foliar growth perfectly enhance this unique space.

Suffice it to say that bamboo has completely changed how we relate to the brutal summer heat here in zone 9, providing shade and cooling comfort to man and beast. “Serenity now” is real, even in summer, and for this we have bamboo to thank.