Peter Barnes spotted green shoots sprouting in his conservatory but was shocked to discover the cause
Homeowners who spotted green shoots sprouting through the wall of their home were left facing extensive repairs, including the demolition of their conservatory. The couple had settled in after buying their detached home near Brighton a year earlier when they suddenly noticed leaves appearing through the floor of the conservatory and from a crack in a wall.
Not knowing what it was they dug up a path only to discover it was bamboo running from the house next door. And they quickly realised it would be a bigger job than first thought after seeing just how far the network of bamboo rhizome – or stem of the plant – had spread.
The conservatory is now being demolished with the neighbour’s building insurers picking up the bill under a liability damage claim. The householder, who has asked to remain anonymous, explained how he noticed the plant when viewing the house but hadn’t thought much of it.
He said: “There was a large stand of bamboo growing next door when we bought the property, but we didn’t think anything of it and nothing came up on the survey. When we first saw the green leaves emerging inside our conservatory, we thought it was some kind of grass, but then pretty quickly we realised it was bamboo.
“We hoped that if we dug up the rhizome underneath the path between our properties, that would solve the problem, but it quickly became apparent that it was much more serious. When the conservatory floor was taken up and we saw the mass of bamboo underneath, we couldn’t believe it.”
So-called “running” varieties of bamboo can spread further and faster than the notorious Japanese knotweed. It can cause serious damage to properties if planted directly into the ground, according to invasive plant specialist Environet.
These varieties have evolved to spread rapidly with roots often travelling over 10 metres. Their shoots are strong enough to pierce tarmac, paths, cavity walls, and exploit cracks in concrete or gaps in brickwork. Some varieties of bamboo actually have a higher tensile strength than steel – 28,000 PSI compared to steel’s 23,000.
However a YouGov survey of moe than 2,000 people conducted in March 2025 showing that 54% of people are unaware that it can cause problems such as property damage or legal disputes. Bamboo remains popular for its hardiness, beauty and screening qualities in overlooked gardens, and is still sold by garden centres and plant nurseries with minimal warnings or advice.
Emily Grant, director of Environet, said, “We’re receiving significantly more calls about bamboo infestations than Japanese knotweed these days, and in most cases the damage caused to property is far greater. There was a particular craze for bamboo around 15 – 20 years ago and where it’s been planted into the ground rather than in a pot, those plants are now fully mature and causing havoc.
“We’ve seen it growing out of living room skirting boards, kitchen floors and even sprouting out from behind an oven. In most cases the only way to deal with it once it’s found its way into a building is to dig up the floor and remove every rhizome. In this case, the conservatory has had to be completely demolished, through no fault of the homeowner’s.
“If you do decide to plant bamboo in your garden, it’s your responsibility to make sure it doesn’t spread into adjoining properties. Choose a clumping variety and plant it in a pot lined with a bamboo-proof root barrier.
“If bamboo is present on a property you want to buy, or on the boundary, it’s a good idea to get a bamboo survey so you understand any risk you’re taking on and ensure there’s no chance of a legal claim against you as soon as you move in.”
Last year, Environet launched the UK’s first insurance-backed guarantee for bamboo removal, in response to growing demand for bamboo excavation services which has more than doubled in the last five years. It typically costs around £3,500 +VAT to remove bamboo from a residential property, although costs often exceed this.
