Bamboo Gardens Still Thriving After 20 Years

Bamboo might be one of the most intriguing plants in the world. 

It’s got a reputation for being invasive yet beloved. It’s tough yet beautiful, and it can be found in a variety of climates and surroundings, either clinging low to the ground or towering high into the sky. 

And for the past 20-plus years, Jerry and Mary Ann Smith have taken advantage of the intrigue surrounding the durable grass through their Virginia Avenue nursery, Bamboo Gardens. 

"We’re members of the American Bamboo Society…so a lot of people know about us,” Mary Ann says.

“There are probably only 35-40 people in the entire country making a living off bamboo, so there’s very little competition,” Jerry Smith adds. 

“It’s all about promoting bamboo.” 

A house hunt spawned a career. 

The Smiths stumbled upon their future career while searching for a new home in 1978. 

“Jerry was a professor at Saint Petersburg College, and we were looking for a house to move in to,” Mary Ann Smith relates. “We found one here, which was a tropical foliage nursery at the time.” 

“She asked if I could run a nursery and I said, ‘Sure!’” Jerry Smith recalls. 

The couple decided to turn the nursery, which opened in the late 1920s to supply plantings to old downtown Palm Harbor, into a bamboo garden, taking advantage of some foliage that was already on the property. 

“When we moved in here, the only bamboo was along the creek,” Mary Ann says, referring to Bee Branch Creek that runs through the four-acre property. “It was planted in the 1930s by the Army Corps of Engineers as a way to stabilize the banks after dredging.” 

“In the late-80s there was a terrific cold storm and we lost all of our foliage,” Jim continues. “The only thing left was the bamboo, so we thought…it was serendipity.” 

The couple converted the nursery into a bamboo-only enterprise in 1991, and thanks to the growing popularity of the plant at the time, their new business prospered. 

Common misconceptions plague bamboo business

Even as it was blossoming into a plant beloved for its durability, versatility and ability to adapt to various conditions, bamboo was also developing a sinister reputation as a landscape villain.

While it’s true that certain strains of the grass, known as runners, can grow out of control, enveloping entire acres of property in mere months, the type of bamboo the Smiths deal in - clumping bamboo - grows only where you plant it. 

“There’s a common misconception that it’s very invasive and it can grow anywhere,” Jerry admits. “It’s ignorance. Clumping bamboo is a wonderful plant. People need to look at it realistically.” 

“It’s a grass so people need to treat it like a grass,” he adds. “They need to water it, cut it, give it sunlight if it needs it. If you were to get a bamboo, it’s probabaly going to last as long as you last.” 

The Smiths say bamboo is a plant that fulfills many purposes; it is ideal for privacy and aesthetics, can be used in tropical gardens and furniture, as a barrier or just decoration. It can have the tensile strength of steel, yet can be as beautiful as any plant in nature.

It’s all about finding the right type of bamboo to fit the buyers’ needs, which is why the Smiths require clients to make appointments so they can gauge which variety is right for them. 

“There are over 2,500 varieties of bamboo worldwide. We have 50 varieties for sale here,” Mary Ann says.

“We work with individual customers and ask them what kind of footprint space they have, what kind of lighting, where they live to determine which species is good for them.” 

Asked when they plan to quit the bamboo business, the Smiths look at each other and shrug.

"I'm 72 now and I'll keep doing it until I can't do it anymore," Jerry offers.

"We get to go out and and get in the dirt every day and have fun," Mary Ann adds. "Why would I want to quit doing that?" 

Bamboo Gardens

Address: 1200 Virginia Ave

Phone: 727-784-0517

Hours: Daily, 10am - 4pm by appointment