It’s a clumping bamboo, but also a tropical variety that requires a warm climate.ĭendrocalamus asper is another of the most important bamboo species worldwide. This species produces great quantities of biomass and very high-quality poles for construction. It may not be a giant species like Moso or Henon, but Rubro grows in dense thickets that can yield as much biomass per acre as any timber bamboo.īambusa balcooa is an Indian species now grown any many parts of Asia and Africa for its great size and unusually thick culms. And in terms of proliferation, it’s one of the fastest-growing species there is. Rubro, as it’s sometimes known, is extremely resilient, highly tolerant of both heat and cold. Phyllostachys rubromraginata, or Red Margin Bamboo, has long been popular as an ornamental, and now it’s gaining currency as an excellent cash crop. They can easily get 50 feet tall and 5 inches in diameter, with straight, smooth culms, excellent for building and other applications. Phyllostachys nigra ‘Henon’ (Giant Gray) and Phyllostachys bambusoides(Japanese Timber Bamboo) are temperate varieties that grow more easily in a wider range of climates, USDA zones 7-10. These are some serious considerations to take into account before introducing bamboo into a foreign habitat on an industrial scale. And, of course, bamboo is notoriously fast-spreading. Non-native plants can have a hard time adapting to foreign weather and soil. (See our in-depth article on Bamboo varieties for construction.)īut before planting the US with great swaths of Chinese and South American bamboo, one needs to do some serious research. ![]() Guadua bamboo is the primary variety used in Latin America for poles and construction, but it doesn’t do so well north of the tropics. To grow bamboo for poles and light construction, there are many more species to choose from. Moso bamboo, from southern China, is the variety that produces bamboo flooring and clothing. That means there is no difficulty in finding a type of bamboo that will perform well, and without unexpected pests or other problems. Most species of bamboo are native to that part of the world. Until quite recently, all the commercial bamboo farming was taking place in China and southern Asia. (Take a look at our article on Best bamboo species for farming.) But to farm bamboo and compete with China on the open market, there are just a handful of species worth looking at. For the garden, there are hundreds of bamboo species to choose from, depending on the climate and the desired effect. Now growing bamboo in your garden and farming it as a cash crop are two very different things. No, your bamboo might not achieve its highest potential in a place like Vermont or Minnesota, but yes, it can grow. In at least 49 states, and in Canada too, you can find bamboo varieties that will thrive or at least survive. Gardeners across the US plant bamboo as an ornamental and for privacy screens. If this topic interests you, be sure to check out our in-depth article on Growing Bamboo for Profit. None of the commercially important bamboo species is native to the US, and no one in this country has yet demonstrated bamboo farming – from seed to mature harvest – as a proven business concept. But that doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy. ![]() ![]() So the incentives for growing bamboo on American soil are significant. The United States continues to be the largest importer of bamboo, buying it mostly from China. From farm to factory, new ideas and opportunities are sprouting up almost daily.Ĭurrent estimates indicate that the global bamboo industry turns over about $80 billion a year. And now, the excitement surrounding a domestic bamboo industry is greater than ever. Gardeners and landscapers have been cultivating bamboo in the US for years. Although it won’t grow as well in Kansas or Kentucky as it does in its native China, commercial bamboo holds great promise for American farmers looking to diversify their acreage. The most massive varieties of bamboo are better suited for tropic and subtropic climates, but temperate bamboos like Phyllostachys are fast-growing and cold hardy, and many species grow larger than trees. In fact, you can cultivate bamboo anywhere that they grow corn, and with fewer chemicals. And many of those consumers are also asking, “What about bamboo farming in the US?”īamboo farming in America is a terrific idea. The environmental benefits of bamboo have made it a top choice among eco-conscious consumers. And thanks to a preponderance of Moso bamboo from China, bamboo IS doing nearly everything. From socks to towels to sheets to flooring, bamboo can do pretty much anything. In the past few decades, the variety of bamboo products has just exploded. UPDATE: This article originally appeared in January 2020, last revised in February 2023.
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