Crossing a number of genera, the wide variety of species and cultivars provide the garden with brightly coloured glossy stems, lush foliage, rustling movement and very fast growth. The Gardener's Guide to Growing Temperate Bamboos offers both a valuable guide to gardeners keen to establish the best performers for different situations and for specialists interested in the detail behind the plant. For the gardener there are a wide range of uses in the mixed border or container, and as specimen plantings, ground cover or water features. If you choose your species carefully there need be no danger from running roots or excess size and bamboos can be used as hedges for front gardens, screens for patios and in small courtyard gardens. Specialists will find fascinating information about the history of bamboos, the botanical sophistication of the plant's design, and tips for finding and growing the more unusual species