The Bamboo Plant

Bamboos are quite easily the fastest growing plants on Earth. Depending on where in the world the plant is and climate and soil conditions it can easily grow as much as 2’ to 3’ in just one day and large Bamboo plants can grow as high as 25' in their lifetime. 

Bamboos are part of the true grass family with giant bamboos being the largest of the grass family.

There are over 1450 species of Bamboo. When thinking of Bamboo plants most people assume they grow only in hot humid areas but Bamboo plants are actually found in all types of climates from hot climates to cold climates.

You can find Bamboo plants in hot tropical areas and also in cold mountainous regions.

Bamboo can be found in places such as from East Asia all the way across to India and the Himalayas, southern section of Africa, Northern Australia. Some parts of the USA and south all the way to Argentina.

So you can see that the Bamboo plant and its different species are very versatile.

Out of all of the trees in the world the bamboo are the only large plants or trees that have the capability of growing to their full height in their 1st growing season.

The average growing season for a large Bamboo plant is around 4 months. During a Bamboos 1^st year of growing the plant grows vertical without any branches sprouting out.

In the second year of growing the Bamboos pulpy wall or stem dries slowly and starts to harden over the season. Branches also start to sprout. The next season finds the stem hardening even more and during the Bamboos 3^rd season it becomes a mature plant.

Bamboo plants are harvested when they are 3 to 7 years old for use in construction. East Asia and South East Asia use Bamboo for building materials more than any other parts of the world.

The Bamboo is also used there as a food source and happens to be primarily what Giant Pandas eat. Of course the pandas consume the softer branches and leaves and not the hardened trunk of the plant.

Mountain Gorillas in Africa also eat Bamboo as do chimpanzees and elephants in that region.

Ornamental Bamboo is very popular now in areas they will grow outdoors. There are two kinds of ornamental you can purchase.

Clumping and Running. Clumping Bamboo will not spread as fast as the running variety so are easier to take care of in your garden.

Running Bamboo spread by their roots and can send runners out several meters in one growing season so you really have to keep on top of running Bamboo if you plant it.

It will end up popping up in your neighbour’s yard in no time at all. Lucky Bamboo plants which everyone can purchase in pots at flower gardens and stores all over the world are actually not related to the Bamboo family.

They are a type of lily called Dracaena Sanderiana.  The lucky Bamboo is grown in the rain forests of Southeast Asia and Africa.

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