New data from invasive plant specialist Environet has revealed the city as one of the spots worst affected in the UK.
Experts warn that bamboo can cause “serious problems for homeowners” by breaking through patios, spreading into neighbours’ gardens and making its way into homes.
Here is everything to know about the plant and what to do if you find some.
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Brighton is one of the worst UK spots for invasive bamboo
Here are the top 10 spots worst affected by invasive bamboo in the UK, according to Environet:
Guildford, Surrey
Kinston Upon Thames, London
South West London
Reading, Berkshire
Brighton, East Sussex
South East London
Redhill, Surrey
Bristol
Twickenham, London
North London
The specialists said that Brighton postcodes account for 3.3% of almost 6,000 bamboo enquiries and survey requests from customers since 2019.
This year, Environet dealt with a serious case of bamboo encroachment at a house just outside Brighton, which resulted in the entire conservatory being demolished after it spread from next door and began to emerge from the walls and floor.
The homeowners had been living in the detached property for a year when they noticed leaves sprouting from the floor threshold of the conservatory where it joins the main house, and from a crack in the wall.
A shoot growing between the conservatory and main house of the couple’s home (Image: Environet)
They were unsure what it was at first before realising it was next door’s bamboo after they dug up the path between the properties and discovered a mass of bamboo rhizome.
After lifting sections of the floor and removing sections of plaster from the walls, an extensive network of mature bamboo rhizome was found beneath the concrete base of the conservatory, growing inside the cavity walls and extending into the brickwork of the house.
The conservatory has since been demolished.
Warning issued to homeowners over invasive bamboo
A YouGov survey of 2,000 UK adults commissioned by Environet earlier this year found that more than half (54%) of people are unaware that bamboo can cause serious problems such as hindering property sales, causing physical damage to property and prompting disputes with neighbours.
Only 38% of people would be put off by a bamboo infestation on a property they wanted to buy, versus 71% who would be deterred if the more notorious Japanese knotweed was present.
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Environet warned that although knotweed is more likely to reduce a property’s value because of its stigma and the legal requirement to disclose it to buyers, bamboo can cause even greater and faster damage due to how quickly it spreads.
Running varieties send out long, lateral rhizomes (underground stems) that can extend more than 10 metres from the original plant, rapidly taking over lawns, flowerbeds, paths and patios, and even spreading beneath sheds and buildings.
Once established, bamboo can reach its full height, often several metres, within just a year.
Emily Grant, Operations Director at Environet, said: “Ever since the garden makeover shows of the 1990s, bamboo has been popular with homeowners and gardeners for its exotic appearance, hardiness and ability to create instant privacy.
“The southeast of England is by far the worst affected region of the country and in places like Brighton, we’re seeing it cause serious problems for homeowners – breaking through patios, spreading into neighbours’ gardens and making its way into homes.
“People think of bamboo as a harmless and attractive plant, but once it takes hold, it can be every bit as destructive as Japanese knotweed.
An anonymous couple from Brighton have been forced to demolish their conservatory after bamboo began to emerge from the walls & floor.
While bamboo isn’t officially classified as an invasive species in the UK it spreads faster & further than the well-known Japanese knotweed.
The… pic.twitter.com/JnKMObBOjQ
— Mr Pål Christiansen (@TheNorskaPaul) May 23, 2025
“If you have bamboo in your garden, the best advice is to determine whether it’s a clumping or running variety by digging around the root ball and checking whether it’s contained around the base.
“If there are long, horizontal rhizomes spreading outwards, it’s probably a running type and should be removed completely by professionals or contained by a strong bamboo-proof root barrier.
“Once it starts to spread, the damage can be extensive and costly to fix.”
How to stop invasive bamboo spreading
As explained by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), there are various methods to help stop the spread of bamboo out of its allotted space.
The first is to select a suitable bamboo by considering the space you wish to fill and whether the growing conditions are likely to encourage vigorous growth.
The RHS adds that it is often best to select a clump-forming type.
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As well as this, it advises growing bamboo in a container, which should be at least 45cm (18in) deep and will require regular watering.
It says to repot every few years, either into a larger container or by dividing and replanting smaller clumps into the same container.
You can also dig a trench around it and put in a barrier, which is also good to control already planted bamboo.
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How to remove invasive bamboo
The RHS says there are two main ways to remove the bamboo, with the first being to dig out the whole plant, which can be difficult.
However, this will ‘completely eradicate’ the bamboo, and to monitor the area for any regrowth and be aware that rhizomes may have spread away from the main plant and still can produce new roots and shoots.
The other option is to hire a company that specialises in bamboo removal.
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