Bespoke sleeper beds
Raised beds built from timber sleepers, sized to the space. Good where bamboo needs a defined bed with room to establish, and good in smaller gardens.
Bamsai: rare and unusual bamboo and specimen bonsai in Ireland
A specialist collection growing in Ireland.
Rare bamboo & bonsai · Ireland
Rare bamboo.
Specimen bonsai.
Over 30 different bamboos and specimen bonsai in Ireland. The collection is still growing.
What Bamsai is
Four things, built slowly,
in one place.
One collection, grown on in an Irish garden, and slowly turning into a nursery, a garden you can walk through, and somewhere to learn.
01
Collection
Rare and unusual bamboo, chosen plant by plant.
02
Nursery
Grown on here, hardened to an Irish winter.
03
Garden
A place to walk through, not a catalogue.
04
Education
Species profiles, growing guides, workshops.
The honest answer
Bamboo has a reputation. It is mostly the wrong bamboo.
The bamboo that lifts patios and crosses into a neighbour's garden is running bamboo. It sends long rhizomes out sideways, metres at a time, and it surfaces wherever it likes. Bamsai grows non-invasive clumping bamboo. New shoots come from buds around the edge of the clump, so the plant widens where it stands. The running bamboos in the Bamsai collection are grown in containers.
Here is the part most sellers leave out. A clump does keep widening. It is slow, it is a few centimetres a year once mature, and the edge is always visible, so a spade in spring is the whole job. That is a different plant from one you cannot find the end of.
It is also why clumping bamboo makes such good screening. A row of Fargesia gives you an evergreen hedge that holds its leaves through an Irish winter and stays where you planted it.
- Short rhizomesSpread is by short rhizomes, not long runners.
- Edge shootsNew culms rise from buds around the clump edge.
- Shallow rootsFibrous roots, mostly the top 20 to 40cm of soil.
- Known edgeThe clump widens in diameter. You can always see where it ends.
YEAR 1
Press and hold
Year 1. Newly planted. A small root system close to the plant.
It stops. That is the whole point.
Running against clumping
Both panels are drawn to the same scale, with the boundary in the same place. The difference is not the plant's size. It is where the rhizomes go.
The difference is underground. Running bamboo sends rhizomes away from the parent plant. Clumping bamboo expands around its existing footprint. At Bamsai, our running bamboos are grown in containers.
Design & installation
You don't need to know which bamboo you need. That's our job.
We create beautiful, long-lasting bamboo features using rare and unusual varieties that bring structure, colour and privacy to your space.
We visit your property, assess the location, and recommend bamboo suited to the available light, exposure and the effect you want to achieve.
From raised sleeper beds to clad container systems, we take care of everything: selection, installation and aftercare.
- Rare & unusual bambooCarefully curated varieties for year-round interest and privacy.
- Expert designWe match the right bamboo to your space, soil, light and climate.
- Installation & aftercareProfessionally installed with clear care instructions for lasting results.
Clad IBC bamboo screens
Each planter is built from a strong IBC container and clad in sustainable timber to suit your property. We supply, clad and install with premium soil and carefully selected bamboo. Instant privacy, and the height to make a real screen.
- Natural privacyLiving screens for year-round privacy.
- Colour & textureStriking culms and foliage to enhance your garden.
- Built to lastQuality materials and correct planting.
- Tailored adviceClear guidance so your bamboo thrives.
DesignInstallEnjoy
Enquire about your gardenThe collection
Over 30 different bamboos,
and the collection is still growing.
Rare and unusual bamboo, gathered plant by plant and grown on in Ireland. Every plant is recorded the same way, so the collection can keep growing.
The running bamboos in the collection are grown in containers.
Provenance
Why doesn't this bamboo have a name?
You may notice that some bamboo in the collection have familiar cultivar names, while others carry codes such as KR7613, KR5287 or BBM20-BR255. These codes are not substitutes for names. In many cases they are the most important part of the plant's history.
Many unusual bamboos come from wild-collected material. When plants or seed are collected from natural populations, they are recorded under a collection number rather than given a commercial cultivar name. That number preserves the identity and provenance of the original collection, and distinguishes one naturally occurring form from another.
A named cultivar such as Fargesia nitida 'Black Pearl' was selected, named and propagated for particular characteristics. A bamboo carrying a collection number has a different story. It can represent material descended from one wild collection, and may never have been given a cultivar name at all.
Chusquea sp. BBM20-BR255
Floraison 2019 Brésil
- CollectedBrazil
- Year2019
- CollectorsP. Bellec, Charles Boulanger, Christian Monnet
- Growing nowBamsai, Ireland
Provenance confirmed by bamboo specialist Jos van der Palen of Kimmey. The BBM collection code connects the bamboo growing in our garden in Ireland today with the people and the original collection that plant material came from.
Reading a collection number
A collection number is a reference, not a placeholder. It can preserve important information about a plant's collection, provenance or identity, and in some cases tells us more about its history than a commercial cultivar name would.
What we record
Where a plant's origin is documented and confirmed, we publish it. Where it is not, the field stays empty. We would rather leave a gap than fill it with a good guess.
This is why we do not intend to replace these numbers with invented commercial names. Knowing where a bamboo came from, who collected it and the history behind it is far more interesting than an attractive name. As the collection develops we will document as much of this provenance as we can, so visitors can find the story behind individual plants.
Sometimes the number tells a better story than a name.
The other half
A tree, kept small on purpose, for as long as it takes.
Most bought bonsai die in the first month. Not because bonsai is hard, but because a supermarket tree arrives in soil that will not take water and nobody tells the buyer anything.
- TaperWide at the base, narrow at the top.
- MovementA trunk that turns rather than rises straight.
- BalanceBranches placed, never left where they grew.
- Negative spaceThe open air is part of the tree.
- AgeTime, texture and character. Nothing fakes it.
Years 1–2Structure and basic shape.
Years 3–5Refinement and ramification.
Years 5+Maturity and character.
Every specimen we sell will come with the year it started.
Living climate control
Bamboo as living climate control.
What if bamboo could do more than provide a backdrop for bonsai?
At Bamsai, we are exploring how carefully positioned bamboo can provide filtered shade, reduce exposure to drying winds and become part of the growing environment for our bonsai.
Measure. Understand. Thrive.
Precision watering.
Healthier bonsai.
We combine traditional bonsai knowledge with careful measurement. Pot weight is one of several indicators we use to understand when a tree needs water, so every bonsai gets exactly what it needs, when it needs it.
- 01 Fully waterWater thoroughly until the rootball and all substrate are completely saturated and water runs freely.
- 02 WeighRecord the fully watered weight. That becomes the reference, the hundred per cent, for this tree.
- 03 MonitorThe tree uses water and transpires. We track the gradual loss in weight over time.
- 04 TriggerWhen the weight reaches our established trigger range, the tree is ready for water.
- 05 RepeatWater thoroughly again, observe uptake, and establish a new fully watered weight.
The trigger range is not a fixed number. It changes with season, temperature, wind, light, foliage mass and root activity. We adjust as conditions change.
Fully watered weight
8.00 kg
The reference, 100 per cent
Typical trigger range
7.20 to 7.50 kg
About 90 to 94 per cent of wet weight
After watering
Observe uptake, allow to drain, then record the new wet weight.
- Weather and seasonHot, windy days increase water use. Winter use drops significantly.
- Tree conditionFoliage mass, species, health and development all affect water demand.
- Substrate and potDifferent mixes and pot sizes hold and release water differently.
- Always reassessWe review the data regularly. The tree and the environment both change.
Monitoring beyond weight
Pot weight is a powerful indicator when combined with environmental and soil data. Together they give us the full picture.
- Soil sensorsEcowitt sensors track soil moisture and temperature at root level.
- Weather stationTemperature, humidity, wind and rainfall help us anticipate water use.
- CamerasWe monitor trees remotely to see conditions and response in real time.
- Time lapseVisual records help us spot subtle changes and refine our care.
Traditional bonsai horticulture, supported by measurement and monitoring.
This thoughtful approach helps us make better decisions, strengthen our trees and provide the highest level of care for every bonsai at Bamsai.
Stronger roots. Better care. Beautiful bonsai.
Premium bonsai soil
Akadama.赤玉土
The foundation of healthy roots and thriving bonsai.
One hundred per cent natural Japanese clay granule. Ideal for bonsai and all container grown plants.
Akadama is a high quality, one hundred per cent natural clay granule from Japan. Ideal for bonsai and all container grown trees. It breaks down slowly, supporting long term root health and stability.
- Promotes strong roots
- Excellent water retention
- Optimal air circulation
- Naturally pH balanced
Bag size
14 kg
Premium quality, great value
At Bamsai we use only the best materials on our own trees. Now available for yours.
Available now
Enquire about Akadama
Why bonsai growers choose akadama
- Perfect balanceRetains moisture while allowing essential airflow.
- Root developmentEncourages fine root growth and strong, healthy trees.
- Stable structureBreaks down slowly, maintaining a consistent growing environment.
- VersatileUse on its own or as part of your own bonsai soil mix.
Granule sizes
Screened for consistent, high quality granule sizes. The circles show the relative difference between them.
- Small2 to 4 mm Ideally suited to mame, shohin and seedlings.
- Medium4 to 6 mm The most popular size for the majority of bonsai.
- Large6 to 8 mm Suited to larger trees and improved drainage.
How to use
- Use as the main component, or blend with other soils.
- Water thoroughly before use.
- Re-pot over time as the akadama breaks down slowly.
Ideal for
- Bonsai
- Maples
- Pines
- Flowering trees
- Evergreen trees
- Shrubs and accents
- Seedlings and cuttings
- Healthy rootsCreates the ideal environment for fine root growth.
- Water and air balanceRetains the right amount of water while allowing vital oxygen flow.
- Strong, stable treesThe perfect start for long term bonsai health and beauty.
Trusted quality. Rooted in experience.
- Carefully selected
- Imported from Japan
- Clean and screened for quality
- Packed with care in Ireland
Better soil. Better roots. Better bonsai.
The garden
A garden you can walk through.
Bamsai is being built as a place, not a catalogue. Paths through the collection, the nursery beds, and a bench where the bonsai sit. Workshops and demonstrations when the beds are ready.
Gallery
The collection, photographed.
Photographs from the garden, the nursery beds and the bench.
A season in motion
A real Bamsai bamboo, captured growing over time.
Borinda papyrifera 'KR 7613'
A remarkable bamboo in motion. This time-lapse captures the extraordinary speed of a new shoot emerging and extending upwards, one of the most fascinating moments in the bamboo growing season.
Learn
The questions people actually ask.
About Bamsai
Rare bamboo, bonsai & Japanese horticulture in County Kildare
Bamsai is a developing specialist collection of exceptional bonsai and rare bamboo, based in County Kildare, Ireland, close to the Irish National Stud & Japanese Gardens.
What began with a passion for bonsai and Japanese horticulture has developed into a much broader project: bringing together bonsai at different stages of development and refinement with an increasingly unusual collection of bamboo from specialist growers, collectors and botanical introductions around the world.
Our bamboo collection is deliberately different from a conventional nursery range. Alongside recognised garden cultivars, we grow rare clumping species, wild-collected material and documented collector accessions carrying reference codes such as KR, CS, BBM and BR. These codes preserve part of each plant's history, linking, where appropriate, living plants in Kildare back to individual collectors, expeditions and locations thousands of kilometres away.
The bonsai collection is equally varied, including Japanese white pine, Japanese maple, trident maple, Japanese larch, juniper, hornbeam, yew, Satsuki azalea, Chinese elm and other developing specimens. Some are mature bonsai; others are trees we will develop and document over many years.
Growing and learning in Ireland
Bamsai isn't simply about collecting plants. It's about understanding how they actually grow in Irish conditions.
Rare bamboo within the collection is observed and documented as it establishes in County Kildare. We use soil-moisture and environmental monitoring, local weather data, photography and time-lapse recording to follow shooting, culm development, seasonal colour and long-term performance.
The same approach extends to our bonsai. Watering, exposure, seasonal development and each tree's individual response are observed carefully rather than relying solely on generic cultivation advice.
As the collection develops, we intend to share more of this information through the Bamsai website, allowing visitors to follow individual plants and trees over time.
Visit Bamsai in Kildare
Our location is part of the Bamsai story. We are based close to the Irish National Stud & Japanese Gardens in County Kildare, an area already closely associated with Japanese garden design and horticulture.
For anyone visiting Kildare with an interest in Japanese gardens, bonsai, bamboo or unusual plants, Bamsai offers something different: a developing specialist collection containing established favourites alongside genuinely uncommon collector material.
Visits to Bamsai are by prior appointment only.
Bamsai is an independent collection and is not affiliated with the Irish National Stud & Japanese Gardens.
Looking to the future
Bamsai is intended to develop slowly. Many of the plants in the collection will take years to reveal their full character. Rather than hide that process, we want to document it, from a rare bamboo producing its first Irish culm to a bonsai gradually improving through successive seasons of cultivation and refinement.
Over time, our aim is for Bamsai to become a place for rare plants, specialist knowledge, education and an appreciation of bonsai and bamboo in Ireland. The collection will continue to evolve as we find plants of genuine horticultural, botanical or historical interest.
Bamsai is not simply a collection of finished plants. It is a collection we intend to grow, study and share.
Visit
Be there when it opens.
Design and installation enquiries, workshops and demonstrations, plus first word when plants are released. No newsletter treadmill.
- Talk through a bamboo screen or planting for your own garden
- Walk the collection with the person who grew it
- Bonsai demonstrations and repotting workshops
- First refusal on plants as they come available
Request a visit
Visits are by prior appointment. Tell us what you would like to see and we will be in touch.
Thank you. You are on the list, and you will hear from us before anyone else.
We have your details and will be in touch.
Terms of use
Copyright, photography and website content
Unless otherwise stated, all photographs, images, videos, written content, plant records, collection notes and other original material displayed on Bamsai.eu are the property of Bamsai and are protected by applicable copyright and intellectual property laws.
Photographs displayed on this website primarily document plants, bonsai, bamboo and other material from the Bamsai collection. They may not be copied, reproduced, republished, distributed, modified, sold, licensed or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Bamsai.
Permission is also required before Bamsai photographs or original content are reproduced on other websites, social media accounts, publications, catalogues, advertisements, marketplaces or other digital or printed media.
Where photographs, information or other material have been supplied by third parties, ownership remains with the respective copyright holder and the material will be credited where appropriate.
Bamsai welcomes requests from researchers, horticultural organisations, educational institutions, publications and other interested parties wishing to reproduce material for legitimate educational, botanical or research purposes. Permission should be requested before use.
The fact that an image or other material is publicly accessible on Bamsai.eu does not place it in the public domain or constitute permission for reuse.
For permission requests, please contact Bamsai through the contact details provided on this website.
Botanical information
Bamsai takes reasonable care to provide accurate botanical, horticultural and provenance information. Plant taxonomy and nomenclature can change over time, and some collector accessions may have uncertain or evolving botanical identities.
Where appropriate, Bamsai retains original supplier names, collector numbers and accession references alongside currently accepted botanical names.
Growing observations recorded at Bamsai relate to plants grown under our own conditions in Ireland and should not be interpreted as a guarantee that the same plant will perform identically in another location.