Abstract: Low temperature in winter is one of the main environmental restraints on the northward expansion of bamboo in China. The research on the freezing injury of bamboo at extreme low temperatures is of great significance for the introduction and cultivation of bamboo. In this study, the growth of 112 bamboo species of 22 genera in southern Anhui Province, which experienced extreme low temperatures in January 2016, was investigated. The results showed that species in genera Shibataea, Phyllostachys, Pleioblastus and Sinobambusa had greater cold tolerance and grew normally, sustaining little or no freezing injury. Therefore these species should be good candidates for planting. Leaves of species of genera Acidosasa, Oligostachyum, Pseudosasa, Indocalamus, Chimonobambusa, Semiarundinaria and Indosasa suffered injury due to cold weather. But as the temperature rose, new leaves regenerated quickly, indicating these species might be planted selectively. Compared with others, the species of genera Bambusa had a lower cold tolerance, and their leaves, branches and culms suffered severe freezing injury, which seriously jeopardized the normal growth in the next year. Therefore, Bambusa multiplex and its varieties should be planted after rigorous evaluation.