Bamboos are members of the grass family, distinguished from other grasses by their woody stems, branched growth and often by their large size. Bamboos are graceful, airy plants that are easy to grow, but some may take a lot of management to control unwanted spread. There are forty-five genera of bamboo, which includes about 1200 species, many tropical, with a wide range of forms. They range in size from dwarfs that are only 12 inches tall to giant types that tower up to 60 feet tall. A few bamboos have variegated foliage and some have very attractive canes of rose, burgundy, yellow, orange, gray or black.
Although many types of bamboo are tropical there are also many that grow in temperate regions as well. Some species are successfully grown as far north as New England. The selection of desirable types of bamboo is much greater for southern gardeners than in the north where winter is the limiting factor. They are found growing in many parts of the world but are most common in southeast Asia, China and Japan. Bamboo in the Orient is harvested for food, paper and timber. In the United States, it is grown as an ornamental. The flowering habits of bamboo are not well understood. Some bloom every year while others bloom only once in fifty or one hundred years and then die depending on the variety and climate. Some species have never been known to bloom.
Learn everything you need to know about bamboo. This text is perfect if you need to prepare for a school report. It will teach you the ins and outs of bamboo.
Topics Covered
- Growth Types
- Culture
- Control
- Select Varieties
