Bamboo, those towering grasses with their hollow culms marked by nodes and internodes, offer a unique botanical charm. Each culm boasts numerous segments, each commencing and concluding with a solid joint known as a node. The interval bridging these nodes, dubbed the internode, is where leaves and branches commonly emerge.
The culm of this remarkable grass rises vertically from subterranean depths. From this hidden subterranean culm, referred to as a rhizome, both roots and shoots emerge. The distinct nature of these rhizomes segregates bamboo into two classes: clumping and running bamboo.
Clumping bamboo demonstrates its developing pachymorph rhizomes, which elevate novel culms. Conversely, running bamboo reveals ectomorph rhizomes that extend horizontally, with each node birthing roots and shoots.
Bamboos find their place in the bambusoidae subfamily, thriving predominantly within tropical realms. A wide array of bamboo species, numbering over 1400, is recognized globally, yet many remain enigmatic.
Chinese heritage shelters a historic affinity for most bamboo species. Hence, this nation proclaims bamboo as an integral facet of its culture, firmly intertwined with age-old values. Varieties of bamboo are legion, each distinguished by its unique hue and attributes.
1. Crimson Edged Bamboo (Phyllos tachys edulis rubromarginata)
The moniker “crimson-edged” derives from the vibrant sheaths enfolding the new shoots. Towering magnificently, this bamboo stretches to heights ranging from 9 to 15 meters.
A rapid growth rate enables this bamboo to withstand frosty climes and arid gusts. This adaptability renders crimson-edged bamboo a versatile contender across diverse environments.
2. Nippon Arrow Bamboo (pseudosasa japonica)
Juxtaposing historical notes, Nippon arrow bamboo derives its name from the bygone era of Japanese samurai utilizing its stout culms as projectile shafts. Originating in parts of Japan and Korea, this bamboo thrives whether basking in full sun or sheltered beneath shadows. It even endures chilling temperatures of -17.7 Celsius.
With culms donning hues shifting from yellow to brown, this bamboo presents an arresting spectacle. Its palm-like verdant leaves further accentuate its allure.
3. Golden Vivax (Phyllostachys vivax ‘Aureocaulis’)
A swift climber, the golden vivax attains heights of 10.5 to 21 meters. Flourishing under the sun’s gaze, it tenaciously survives winter’s icy embrace, enduring temperatures as low as -20 Celsius.
Golden culms, adorned with meandering green stripes, reflect nature’s unpredictable hand. As shoots unfurl, their shrouds gracefully cascade away.
4. Amber Grove Vivax (Phyllostachys vivax ‘Huangwenzhu’)
“Huangwenzhu,” a Chinese term that resonates as “amber grove bamboo,” encapsulates this bamboo variety. With vibrant green culms punctuated by radiant yellow stripes at intervals, this towering timber bamboo achieves heights spanning 10.5 to 21 meters.
5. Fargesia Jiuzhaigou “1”
Hailing from China’s Sichuan province, Fargesia jiuzhaigou “1” thrives within Jiuzhaigou Park. Despite its modest stature of 2.4 to 4 meters, its kaleidoscope culms catch the eye, transitioning from verdant to fiery red when caressed by sunlight.
Soft, slender emerald leaves interlace, crafting an engaging tapestry of form and color.
6. Fargesia Jiuzhaigou “2”
Like its sibling, Fargesia Jiuzhaigou “2” originates from the Chinese heartland, yet diverges in character. Its culms, although less luminous, transform from verdant to deep red-brown, sculpted by the rhythm of light and shadow. Basking in morning sun, it thrives, while the afternoon’s embrace finds it nestled in shade.
7. Fragresia Scabrida
Dwelling between elevations of 2600 meters and reveling in sunlit patches as well as shaded alcoves, Fragresia scabrida attains heights of 2.5 to 5 meters. Nestled within Sichuan’s mountainous realm, it unveils an intriguing palette, as orange sheaths yield purplish and blue hues under the sun’s brush. Elegant, elongated leaves grace this delicacy beloved by the giant panda.
8. Serpent’s Crown Bamboo (Fragesia rufa)
“Long-Tou Jian-Zhu,” its Chinese title, resounds as serpent’s crown bamboo, aptly reflecting its Southwestern Chinese origins at elevations of 1500 to 2200 meters. This sturdy bamboo flourishes in both sunlit meadows and shaded havens, embracing all soil types. Versatility unfurls as it graces both sunbeams and twilight’s retreat.
9. Tenacious Bamboo (Fragesia robusta)
Fragesia robusta, a giant among clumping bamboos, calls Sichuan province home. Thriving between altitudes of 1200 to 2800 meters, it adapts to both sun-drenched expanses and shadowed retreats. Verdant culms reveal a hint of yellow, preserving their sheaths as summer emerges.
10. Obsidian Bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra)
Black bamboo, with its sprightly green culms that gradually darken, embraces its name’s hue. Paired with ebony foliage, this mesmerizing spectacle elevates it to an ornamental status. To flourish, it craves sunlight’s constant caress.
11. Gilded Glory (Phyllostachys bambusoides)
Golden splendor unfurls within the all-gold bamboo’s vertical reaches, spanning 15 to 30 feet. Culms, crowned with a two-inch diameter and radiant yellow hues in youth, deepen to lustrous gold as maturity graces them.
12. Phyllostachys aureosulcata “Spectabilis”
“Spectabilis,” an apt name bestowed upon this bamboo, alludes to its dazzling new culms. Flourishing in sun-kissed locales and unflinching against temperatures as low as -26 Celsius, its yellow-green culms harbor deep green sulci, awash with crimson under sunlight’s affection. The lower culms form intricate zigzag patterns, accentuating its appeal. Reaching 15 to 30 feet, it ranks among the medium-high.
13. Phyllostachys aureosulcata “Yellow Groove Bamboo“
Hailing from cooler Chinese climates, this bamboo — dubbed “yellow groove” — spans 15 to 30 feet, its 1.5-inch diameter culms adorned with dark green and conspicuous yellow grooves. Basking in sunlight, it thrives, yielding an exquisite silhouette.
14. Swift Moso (Phyllos tachys edulis)
Phyllos Stachys edulis, aptly nicknamed “hairy bamboo” in Chinese (“mao zhu”), boasts a staggering growth rate of around 3 inches or 1 meter per day, soaring to heights of 9 to 27 meters. Its emerald culms are adorned with a fine velvety down,
evoking an air of mystique. An expansive domain within China hosts this prolific bamboo.
15. Sasa Palmate
Reigning as the broad-leaved bamboo, Sasa palmate, indigenous to Japan, displays leaves of impressive scale. Thriving in shadows, its stature peaks at 7 feet, a testament to nature’s ability to thrive in diverse niches.
16. Yushania Maculate
Embarking on an identity derived from its native territory, Yushania maculate or Manculata bamboo draws attention with its distinctive origin, Manchester.
17. Muriel’s Bamboo (Fargesia Murielae)
Muriel’s bamboo, also known as umbrella bamboo, unfolds its yellow-hued culms across vast Asian regions. Its enigmatic aura resonates with its flowering nature, adding to its allure.
18. Behemoth Bamboo (Dendrocalamus Giganteus)
Emanating from Southeast Asia, the colossal giant bamboo boasts monumental dimensions, reaching up to 30 meters in a subtropical and tropical embrace. A daily surge of up to 40 centimeters empowers its rapid rise, thriving at varying elevations. Verdant culms, transitioning to brownish hues when dry, dance in the wind, underlining this bamboo’s grandeur.