Bamboo: A Complete Guide to Its Characteristics, Varieties and Cultivation Methods

Bamboo is the collective name for plants in the subfamily Bambusoideae of the grass family (Poaceae). Most are evergreen, woody-stemmed plants, widely cultivated because their culms are hollow and jointed and because they grow rapidly. They are mainly distributed in tropical and subtropical regions, and China is very rich in bamboo resources, with bamboo commonly seen in the mountains, courtyards and gardens of the south.

The most obvious characteristics of bamboo are its hollow culms with distinct nodes, its light yet tough material, and its mostly narrow, lance-shaped leaves. Its underground stem, commonly called the bamboo rhizome, spreads horizontally, and shoots sprout from the nodes of the rhizome and grow into new culms, which is why bamboo often forms dense groves and stays green all year round.

There are many kinds of bamboo. Common ones include moso bamboo, stiff bamboo, Sinocalamus affinis, hedge bamboo, Buddha belly bamboo, black bamboo and golden bamboo. By growth habit they can be divided into two main groups: running bamboos and clumping bamboos. Moso bamboo has tall, large culms and is an important timber bamboo species; Buddha belly bamboo has swollen internodes, and black bamboo has deep purple culms, so both are highly ornamental.

As for cultivation, bamboo prefers a warm, humid climate and well-drained soil, and it likes light but also tolerates slight shade. For planting, people usually choose vigorous mother culms or rhizomes with buds; transplanting in spring gives a higher survival rate. During the growing season, keep the soil moist and fertilise appropriately, and also loosen the soil and guard against waterlogging, promptly removing dead branches and old rhizomes to prevent the rhizomes from spreading too far.

Bamboo has a very wide range of uses: bamboo timber can be used for construction, furniture, papermaking and woven utensils; bamboo shoots are a common food ingredient; and bamboo groves also have good ornamental and landscaping value. In traditional culture, bamboo symbolises an open mind, resilience and noble integrity, and together with plum, orchid and chrysanthemum it is known as one of the Four Gentlemen, which is why it is so widely loved.