Dwarf bamboo(Sasa borealis) is a dominant understory species in the various forest types in Korea. The objective of this study was to investigate vegetation structure of Sasa borealis and effects of Sasa on the growth of overstory tree species along the forest development after clearcutting. Three representative stand types with and without S. borealis in Baekwoonsan, Chonnam province were selected in 1998 for this study: uncutting stands(natural deciduous forests with overstory vegetation), 1987-cutting stands (11 years after clearcutting), and 1993-cutting stands(5 years after clearcuting). Vegetation type was largely classified into Sasa borealis dominant type and Sasa borealis recessive or absent type. The former composed of four associations including Quercus serrata-Carpinus laxiflora / Sasa borealis community, Cornus controversa-Morus bombysis / Sasa borealis community, Styrax japonica-Styrax obassia / Sasa borealis association, Zelkova serrata / Sasa borealis community. The latter divided into six associations including Quercus serrata / Lindera erythrocarpa community, Cornus controversa / Lindera erythrocarpa community, Quercus serrata / Acer pseudosieboldianum / Deutzia glabrata community, Fraxinus rhynchophylla-Quercus serrata / Lindera erythrocarpa / Euonymus alataus community, Rubus crataegifolius-Hydrangea macrophylla community, Rubus crataegifolius-Lespedeza bicolor community. Distribution of Sasa, borealis by developmental stages of forests showed that in natural stands was dominant understory, but was various pattern in two cutting stands. Mean annual ring growth of Quercus serrata and Carpinus laxiflora during the last 35 years had not been affected by presence of Sasa, based on comparisons in annual ring growth between Sasa-present and Sasa-absent stands. In conclusion, dense crown of Sasa borealis suppressed the invasion of other shrubs or annuals and facilitated later stages of plant succession by promoting growth of shade-tolerant tree species after clear cutting.