daylilydreams said:I am not willing to even try bamboo. I already have an invasive trumpet vine that I have been trying to get rid of for years.

I think the bamboo was suggested because of using it in a pot. I know a lot of people that like to plant bamboo in pots. I have seen Black Bamboo planted in pots in New Jersey in front of the school It was pretty. They planted red and yellow flowering plants around the bottom and it made the black pop. But I think they are a zone 6/7.

Re: The trumpet vine. There was one here when I moved in 16 years ago. I still find a shoot now and then. It is in an area I can mow now so it just gets mowed. I could not believe the roots/shoots on this thing. I would never recommend it to anyone else. Although.. the hummers sure like it.

Mine is in the garden, so can't mow them down. I wish I had never planted the trumpet vine and also have recommended to people not to plant it, even told a garden center not to sell them. The plant runs underground roots a long way from the parent plant, even after the parent is removed those roots (shoots) keep putting up vines. My vine use to be beautiful with stout vines pruned up and trimmed to look like a weeping tree until it tried to put up vines all over the place. The vine takes between five and seven years to bloom, when it does bloom it is a beauty and a hummingbirds magnet. After al the time and work I put into the trumpet vine it ended up being a absolutely worthless thug. This is the biggest garden mistake I ever made in my many years of gardening.

Now I have two honeysuckle vines that are more easily managed, bloom from spring to frost and the hummingbirds are always around them. They are Dropmore Scarlet and Major Wheeler, I love the long bloom period which are plentiful and colorful.

Ladies I am sure bamboo would be attractive, but just does not appeal to what I like in plants.

Betty I understand it has to be a plant you like. I was just thinking about privacy and quick.:lol: I have a thing about privacy.

It was part of what pushed me to go house hunting. I liked my old house but the suburban closeness was not enough privacy for me. I set out for a property that was no less than 2 acres. So I would grow a weed if I wanted privacy because I crave privacy so much.

The trumpet vine..... I love it but I have the space. I planted it out about 500' from the house. Lots of grass between the house that any runners will be mowed down. I purchased the yellow one two yrs ago and it is slooooow. I hope it takes over soon.

Going back to cannas I love them. I only have a small patio garden but love these in a large pot. My favourite is Tropicanna.

If you like Tropicanna if you see Pink Sunburst it is another pretty color mix.

@NJBob -- really like the suggestion of the Stuttgart Canna. It looks like it will fill a hole perfectly well for me. I just planted three. We will see.

I hope they do great for you.