Dwarf whitestripe is an evergreen bamboo in the Poaceae (grass) family native to Japan. It can grow quickly to a height of 2 to 3 feet and is often used as a groundcover. While it tolerates up to 6 hours a day of full sun it prefers partial shade in any well-drained soil. The leaves have an interesting white and green striped pattern and will maintain that variation through the summer if the plant receives shade. Once established, this plant is very drought-tolerant. It s preads aggressively by rhizomes that can travel quite a distance from the original clump to spread in the landscape. While it has been used to manage erosion, especially in poor growing conditions, it often escapes cultivation and easily naturalizes, displacing native plants. It tolerates mowing well but if it needs to be managed mowing will not be sufficient. Consider planting a clumping bamboo instead, as they do not spread aggressively with rhizomes. If you do use this plant, it should be kept in a container or in an area surrounded by concrete and buildings. See alternative plants to the left. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: It is an aggressive plant, native alternatives and less aggressive plants should be considered.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Erect; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Brown/Copper; Green; Variegated; White
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
New leaves are white with bright green stripes. 4-7 inches long and 3/4 inch wide, with a pointed tip. Giving it afternoon shade helps retain the variegation.
Flower form
Insignificant; Spike
Flower detail
Rarely flowers but if it does it produces small, inconspicuous spikelets,