I'm so jealous. Ours don't get especially huge where we're at. If you are afraid, instead of offing the boo, just install a barrier instead. As long as it's deep enough and the lip is about an inch or so sticking up, it should be fine. Many of the online bamboo sellers also sell bamboo barriers.

The boo is in the middle of a small hydrangea garden. The hydrangeas are totally taking over this little spot but are no where as aggressive as the boos. I don't have the beautiful thick culms, just a bunch of skinny tall ones. Growing hydrangeas in the PNW is sort of like growing boos - they love it and can get really big - at least in my garden. Right now I have a H. Golden Crane that has some branches reaching over 8 ft. in height. lol Installing a barrier for the black boo is way more than I can tackle.

You've had it in a pot for seven years and you're worrying about it escaping?Re-pot it, because it's overdue, and then set it on a saucer and quit worrying. I'm in the PNW, too, and have dozens of bamboo in pots. A few that have been sitting for years without a saucer have occasionally sent a rhizome out of a drainage hole, and it must have taken me at least 1-2 minutes to dig it out of the ground. I'm not sure what you are afraid of, but, if you are still concerned, you should have no problem finding someone who will be happy to have it.

Thank you Kudzu Think I will re-pot it tomorrow and then I will decide what to do with it. Will take some pics. Our Garden club has a big sale in the spring and maybe it will be a good donation - as long as I can set the price. lol

I just hate to see you afraid of such a pretty plant. I've had to deal with a lot of plants that are harder to control than bamboo, but it's bamboo that seems to get the worst rap. In my experience, most of the people who complain about bamboo are the ones who plant it in the ground with no barrier or maintenance and then are shocked that the plant has misbehaved 5 or 10 years later.