Bamboo Facts - Why We Love Bamboo

by James Wolf

FACTS ABOUT BAMBOO

  1. It's a Renewable Resource
  2. It Absorbs Greenhouse Gasses
  3. It has an Amazing Growth Rate!
  4. There is very little waste.
  5. It's Extremely Versatile. 
  6. No Fertilizer, No Pesticides, and No Herbicides are ever needed.
  7. Bamboo Protects the Soil. 
  8. Bamboo Promotes Economic Development. 
  9. Bamboo Grows in a Variety of Conditions. 

THE MOST IMPORTANT RENEWABLE RESOURCE ON THE PLANET

Bamboo grows naturally in biologically diverse forests throughout southeast Asia, South and Central America, and the Caribbean. They are found in diverse climates, from cold mountains to hot tropical regions.

There are 91 genera and about 1,000 species of bamboo. Bamboo stands release 35% more oxygen than equivalent stands of tree. Bamboo can also lower light intensity and protects against ultraviolet rays. Bamboo is one of the strongest building materials, tensile strength is 28,000 pounds per square inch versus 23,000pounds per square inch for steel.

Some bamboo can sequester up to 12 tons of carbon dioxide from the air per hectare.

Bamboo History & Origins

Bamboo, subfamily Bambusoideae, indigenous to China from prehistoric times. More than 400 species of bamboo, one third of all known species in the world, grow in China. In 2014 fragmented strips of Bamboo were found, dating back 2,200 years. There are between 1400 to 1600 species of Bamboo. 64% of those species grow in SE Asia. In the US, there are only 3 species that grow there naturally, Arundinaria gigantean, Arundinaria tecta and the most recently discovered Arundinaria appalachiana.

There are two types of Bamboo

Running Bamboo

Running Bamboo extends its rhizomes outwards in a running fashion. 

Running Bamboo tends to grow in temperate climates, while clumping Bamboo grows in more tropical climates. 

Running Bamboo is usually considered invasive as it tends to be difficult to control, especially in small areas such as a backyard.

 running bamboo diagram

Clumping Bamboo

Clumping Bamboo grows in clumps and the rhizomes tend to clump and are more controllable in the landscape.

 

clumping bamboo diagram

 

Most Bamboo grow between zones 4 through 11

grow zone map
growing zones map
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