By Jim McCausland, Sunset Magazine

Looking at a bamboo in a 1-gallon pot, it’s hard to tell what it will be like in 5 or 10 years. How tall will it grow? Will the new culms (canes) be colored, patterned, or scented? Can it stand up to snow, and might it spread much? You learn these things by looking at mature bamboo growing outside, and one of the best places to do that is at Bamboo Garden near Portland.

Located on an old farm in the forested hills above North Plains, Oregon, Bamboo Garden has acres of mature bamboos in the ground, and a nursery lot full of the same varieties in containers of all sizes. By looking at the mature groves here, you can see for yourself how different varieties held up (or not) under snow loads. You can smell the sandalwood fragrance of incense bamboo (Phyllostachys atrovaginata), and be wowed by the towering timber bamboos that arch overhead. I personally love the layered look of moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis), and the green strength of Phyllostachys nigra ‘Henon’, and found the patterned culms of Phyllostachys aureosulcata 'Spectabilis' irresistable (pictured at bottom right).

Most of these are runners—they can get away from you if you don’t contain them or nip them back—but many are well-behaved clumpers. The checkerboard pattern of culm sheaths on Fargesia robusta (bottom left) will win you over even if you don’t care about its well controlled growth habit.

Bamboo Garden is run by Ned Jaquith (left) and his incredibly well-informed staff, who will give you a golf-cart tour of mature plants to help you choose. I learned much there: that runners, for example, tend to run downhill and toward the south; and the parts of the grove that get the most sun usually grow tallest. Little tips like these can save you long-term maintenance when you place bamboo in the garden.

Bamboo Garden is open Tuesday through Saturday 9 to 4, or Sunday by appointment from 10 to 3. Go to their web site for directions (which you'll definitely need).