bambusoides and much easier to establish than Moso, making it one of the most popular species for bamboo farmers. Moreover, it grows far taller and thicker, ordinarily 50 to 60 feet tall and about 4 inches thick. Unlike the typical species, Henon grows lighter in color, more of a greenish-gray than a brownish-black. Giant Gray is a close relative, a subspecies actually, of the exceedingly popular Black Bamboo or Phyllostachys nigra. A couple of plantations in the Deep South have had success with it, but it’s definitely not a good choice west of the Mississippi. But in the US, farmers have a much harder time getting the plants established. In China, this bamboo easily grows 100 feet tall, with 4 to 5 inch culms. This giant timber bamboo is cultivated in its native China for everything from flooring to cutting boards to fabric to edible shoots. Phyllostachys edulisĬommercially speaking, Moso bamboo is the most important species of bamboo on the planet. This species does best in zones 7 or 8, but it’s cold-hardy down to 0º F. Its great size and thick culm walls make this an ideal species for building and construction, but it is slower growing than some of the other Phyllostachys varieties. Smooth, dark green culms can grow 50 to 70 feet tall with a culm diameter of about 5 inches. Phyllostachys bambusoidesĬommonly known as Japanese Timber Bamboo or ‘Madake’, this is a majestic species of bamboo for both ornamental gardening and commercial cultivation. Their clumping roots are far more contained. Clumpers, like Bambusa, usually come from tropical or sub-tropical climates and prefer warmer weather. But they are generally much more cold-tolerant. Runners, like Phyllostachys, have a far more aggressive growth habit, making them potentially invasive. Whenever planting bamboo, it’s also important to understand the difference between runners and clumpers. For those applications, it’s simply a matter of producing the greatest quantity of biomass. If you’re growing bamboo for fuel or paper pulp, then the quality and thickness of the culms are less important. If the poles will be used for construction or processed into engineered lumber, then the culm wall thickness is crucial. Thicker walls make for a stronger building material, as well as greater overall biomass. Besides the diameter of the stalks, the thickness of the culm wall is also very important. To maximize their yields and profits, farmers want to plant bamboo species that are the tallest, thickest and fastest-growing. Sometimes called hill cane or river cane, these bamboo species have their own redeeming qualities, but none is ideal for cultivating as a cash crop. In their own natural habitats, the native species are sure to thrive.īut in the United States, there are just three native varieties of bamboo, all members of the genus Arundinaria. Each region has its own indigenous species, and the locals are well aware of their respective characteristics. Best species for farming bambooįarming bamboo in Asia is fairly straightforward. But importing bamboo from the other side of the world does a lot to cancel out its superior sustainability. Without a doubt, a tally of bamboo’s multifarious uses could stretch out nearly as long as a comprehensive list of Chinese Emperors. We’re even exploring its potential for tree-free toilet paper and a non-food source of ethanol biofuel. Americans already use it for flooring, cabinetry, construction and textiles. Many consider bamboo to be the fastest-growing and most readily renewable resource on earth. The interest in farming bamboo in America has never been greater. In warmer regions, with less frost, clumping species of Bambusa could be an option. rubromarginata is a smaller but robust species, ideal for generating biomass. The largest and most useful timber varieties include Phyllostachys bambusoides (Madake), Phyllostachys nigra ‘Henon’, and Phyllostachys edulis (Moso). In most temperate climates, where you have a high likelihood of freezing, members of the running genus Phyllostachys are the best choice. While there are a handful of bamboo species native to North America, the best varieties to cultivate for industrial use or plant on an American farm will be of Asian origin. But with thousands of varieties to choose from, the question of which bamboo species to plant on the farm is not so easy to answer. The fact that we can reduce our bamboo’s carbon footprint by growing it domestically is pretty obvious. But as our focus on sustainability intensifies, along with a drive for resource independence, many westerners now wish to produce their own bamboo. Indeed, Asia and the Far East are where the vast majority of bamboo originates. Americans and Europeans have long looked eastward for their superior supply of bamboo.
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