Bamboo's natural ranges includes every continent except Europe and Antarctica.
We once had 5 million acres of native American bamboo known as Cane brake (Arundinaria gigantea) growing in our Southeastern quarter. This bamboo and its ecosystem were soon greatly diminished in area by the migration of settlers in the early 19th century. The bamboo grew in good soil and was cleared for farmland.
"Stone Age" Asians may have relied heavily on tools they made of materials other than stone. The lack of stone tools of the quality found in Europe in much of Asia roughly corresponds to the natural distribution of bamboo in the region. It appears that Southeast Asia has been heavily forested for many millions of years. This is still one of the areas of dense bamboo forests remaining in the world. Man may have relied more on bamboo than we know. Based on this theory, bamboo was probably one of the most important raw materials used by early Asian people. Even today, the use of bamboo has more significance to Asian cultures than any other.
Evidence of bamboo use is found in South America. Some excavations of early dwellings have imprints of bamboo canes and split, woven material preserved in the mud or adobe used in the construction. Bamboo is an incredible grass that has long been in use by people around the globe. In our modern world it is finding a new place in the spectrum of plants, fibers and foods used to enhance the quality of our lives. We are not simply talking about one plant. Bamboo is a large group of giant grasses with over 1,200 species found from the tropics to temperate regions.
With bamboo's reputation as a fast grower, it is difficult to imagine that many of the world's bamboo species are endangered. How can this be? Like many other plant groups some bamboo species live in small areas of habitat. These areas might be visualized as islands in a rising sea of humanity. One well known example is the panda and bamboo habitat in Sichuan, China. Of particular interest to Americans is the cloud forest bamboo habitats of Mexico, Central and South America. Here we can find examples of logging, livestock grazing and land clearing that may bring some species of bamboo to the brink of extinction in the next 10 years.Recommended reading:American Bamboos. To learn more and how to help with bamboo conservation: contact Bamboo of the Americas
There are many factors to consider when thinking about growing bamboo for ornamental, utility or edible bamboo shoots. To assist you in making an educated decision in species selection the most important things to think about are listed.

Do you live in a tropical , subtropical or temperate zone? Note the hardiness or minimum temperature listed for each bamboo species in the catalog.
Tropical bamboo may only be grown permanently outdoors in areas that are frost free. This is probably USDA Zone 10 only: areas like Southern Florida, Southern California and Hawaii. Tropical bamboo may be grown indoors or in greenhouse environments if care is given to maintain steady warm temperatures throughout the year.
Subtropical bamboo are somewhat tolerant to frost. They grow well in USDA Zones 9 and 10 with marginal performance of some species in Zone 8. These hardier selections are useful for areas like much of coastal California, the Gulf States and the tropical areas, as well as interior use.
The temperate bamboo are quite frost hardy. Some withstand temperatures to -20 F or USDA Zones 4 and 5. Most will grow around the country in Zones 6, 7, 8, 9, and many, in 10. Many do well as house plants.

While bamboo will grow in most soils it is important to remember it is not a water plant or a desert plant. It likes water on a regular basis, particularly in summer. Bamboo likes to grow at the edge of a pond, stream or swampy area but not in it. Irrigation is necessary in the west where summers are dry, clear and hot. In the east where summer rains are a regular occurrence irrigation is not necessary, except for newly planted bamboo or during drought conditions.
The soil range can be from sandy to clay. Bamboo grows fast and easily in sandy/loamy soils, however, watering and feeding will need to be more frequent. Heavier soils also nurture bamboo nicely. In both cases a heavy mulch of wood chips encourages rhizome growth and maintains even moisture levels.
Soil pH is recommended at between 5.5 and 6.5 or slightly acid for most species. Generally, species that tolerate drier conditions may do better in higher pH soils.
Recommended reading: - Bamboo for Gardens, Bamboos by Recht and Wetterwald, The Gardeners Guide to Growing Temperate Bamboos, A Japanese Touch for Your Garden, and Catalog of the Bambouseraie Prafrance.

Many gardeners are frightened by the running bamboo species that send out rhizomes traveling for several feet. These are the culprits of bamboos bad reputation among western gardeners. Fortunately, there is an alternative type of rhizome growth that results in the rhizome being very short and, sometimes, almost bulbous. These bamboos that grow only inches away from the center of the plant with densely clustered culms are called clumping bamboos.
In simple terms, the spreading or running bamboo are found in the more temperate climates. The clumping bamboo is of more tropical or montane origin. The open grove spreading bamboo is what you see in photographs of people walking through a forest of bamboo. Clumping bamboo forms tight thickets of canes that are impossible to walk through without cutting your way first. These are the well behaved bamboo that stay put when planted. The spreading bamboo needs plenty of space to form a grove. The best way to enjoy spreading bamboo in the garden is in pots or in a designated area with the bamboo contained by rhizome barrier.
Recommended reading: Bamboo for Gardens, Bamboo Rediscovered, Bamboo World, Bamboos by Recht and Wetterwald and The Gardeners Guide to Growing Temperate Bamboos.
rhizome barrier.

Known as the plant of a thousand uses, bamboo is for us in the West, first and foremost a landscape ornamental. For years gardeners have relished the graceful beauty bamboo brings to the garden. There are hundreds of species suited to every garden use, except the production of beautiful flowers!
Dwarf bamboo can be used in mass plantings for a ground cover. Many gardeners use them as facers between mixed shrubbery or in foreground plantings. Bonsai and house plant enthusiasts use the little bamboo in pots around the deck and home. The many sizes, leaf textures, leaf patterns and colors create a delectable palette to work with.
The shrub bamboo will reach six to eight feet tall. All will grow with a mounding mass of leaves and very little culm showing. Use for low hedges, boundaries, fillers, foundation plantings, and for taller house plants. On the larger estate they are excellent for mass plantings and erosion control. There are several different leaf colors and sizes available.
The taller bamboo that are big by homeowner standards but not timber size are categorized as tall shrub. This group of bamboo reach heights that are suitable for screening purposes, hedges, small space specimens, foundation plantings, and large pots. A new group is added to this size - mountain bamboo. These are very beautiful and well behaved clumping bamboo suitable for the smaller garden wherever the climate permits.
The popular icons of bamboo are the timber bamboos. These grow to gigantic proportions. Many of the tropical species reach huge sizes that will impress you and your friends. Fortunately, the tropical and subtropical giants are clumpers. They are practical as a ÒtreeÓ size plant in many residential lots. The other group of giants are the temperate running timber bamboo. These are the grove forming bamboos that need free range and space to attain grand heights and thick hard culms. The timber bamboos make great background plants or tall hedges to block out undesirable noise and views. To use these responsibly in residential lots we recommend installing our rhizome barrier.
Recommended reading: Bamboo for Gardens, Bamboos by Recht and Wetterwald, The Gardeners Guide to Growing Temperate Bamboos and A Japanese Touch for Your Garden.

Bamboo is a tradition for most people in Asia. Handcrafted items made from bamboo have been in use since antiquity. It is surely the plant of a thousand uses, however, we won't go into more detail here. The best bamboos for crafting various things for use around the home and garden are listed in the species descriptions and "Gib's Picks". To use bamboo requires different skills than using wood. Bamboo is strong, hard and brittle. For example, driving a nail will split it, you must predrill a hole first. Sawing bamboo requires a sharp small toothed saw like a hacksaw. We carry several books to assist the crafts person to learn how to use bamboo in building.
In the past few years numerous techniques in bamboo processing have brought new products onto the home improvement market. Examples of these products include "Plyboo" tongue and groove flooring, sheets and paneling. Other paneling products use the beauty of natural split weaves, culms and strips to create fine Japanese style interiors. Most of these materials come from the splitting of the bamboo culm into various sizes, squaring and pressure laminating into the desired size and shape. This is one of the most exciting areas in the application of bamboo to solve our natural resource problems in the future.
Recommended reading: IL-31 Bambus/Bamboo, Japanese Gardening in Small Spaces, Bamboo Construction Manual (in Spanish), Bamboo World, Bamboo Rediscovered, Tropical Bamboos, The Anatomy of Bamboo Culms, Bamboo Preservation Techniques: A Review and the International Bamboo Workshop Proceedings: 1985, 1988, 1991 and 1995. SEE OUR TOOLS LIST!.

While Asian cuisine has demanded a variety of bamboo species to be harvested in season for fresh or canned bamboo shoots, the American market for shoots has been exclusively imported canned shoots. The popularity of Chinese restaurants with Americans gave most of us a taste of this bamboo vegetable. Asian communities are growing enclaves in many parts of the country. People in these areas want good quality bamboo shoots - either fresh or frozen. More and more people are planting bamboo for this vegetable market.
The homeowner with the best bamboo for edible shoots may enjoy the annual harvest at shooting time. There are many recipes available for using bamboo shoots. Some species of bamboo shoots are very bitter. The traditional way of removing the acrid taste is by cooking and washing. However, the best way to enjoy your shoots is by selecting the best edible species to start with. Take a look at the recommended bamboo in "Gib's Picks for Edible Shoots".
Recommended reading: The Bamboo Handbook, Bamboo World, Bamboo Rediscovered, Bamboo on the Farm and Hardy Bamboo for Shoots and Poles.

Some countries rely on bamboo for most of their paper production. Commercial paper makers in America may not find bamboo useful as a raw material without more bamboo acreage and new processing equipment. The paper making crafts person will find bamboo as a very desirable fiber for hand made paper .

The Japanese have used bamboo as animal feed for hundreds of years. Only recently have stockmen realized the usefulness of bamboo feed. There is new research into the food value of bamboo for cattle and other livestock.
Recommended reading: The Proceedings of the 1997 PNW Bamboo Agroforestry Workshop.

Our activities disturb nature. Bamboo is a helpful plant to reduce our environmental intrusion. There are some areas where humans and livestock present problems in waste disposal. Bamboo is a heavy feeder and grows very well if given high levels of nutrients. There is research into the nitrate uptake and production of bamboo poles from the waste treatment facilities of towns and farms.
Erosion on America's land continues. Every time someone uses a bulldozer to make a new driveway or home the soil is disturbed. Rain runoff carries the exposed soil into our waterways. Prompt planting of bamboo can alleviate these problems.
Polluted air and views are problems many of us face in our daily lives. Tall bamboo provides millions of leaves to filter the air, sounds and views that intrude into our most important space -home. Wise planting of bamboo around the home, farm and factory will encourage good relations between neighbors.

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