In Scotland, bamboo is controlled under the Wildlife and Natural Environment Act 2011, which states that it is an offence to release or cause the release of any plant to a place outside of its native range. Put simply, if you allow bamboo to spread from your land, you could face significant penalties and fines. Despite being recognised as one of the UK’s emerging invasive threats, bamboo can still be bought in garden centres up and down the country. It is not an offence to buy, sell or plant bamboo in your garden – not that we would ever recommend doing so!