Bamboo plants conjure up a Far Eastern flair in the garden or apartment. The rapid growth of bamboo and the always fresh greenery make it sought after worldwide. Do you want bamboo for your garden or apartment? Then you are probably interested in how bamboo grows.
How fast and how long does bamboo grow?
Bamboo growth varies depending on the type and variety. There is no growth in thickness, stalks reach their finished thickness straight away. During the growing season from April to August, the sprouts shoot up quickly and reach their full size within a few months.
Bamboo is a growth miracle
Good to know: there is not just one bamboo plant, but 47 species with over 1200 varieties. These are divided into 2 groups in terms of root growth:
- Bamboos that do not form underground runners – Fargesia
- Bamboos forming runners – Phyllostachys, Pleioblastus and Pseudosas
Bamboos grow differently than trees
Unlike trees, bamboo does not grow in thickness. When the stalks sprout from the ground like asparagus from April to August, they have already reached their finished thickness. The sprouts grow into a fully grown stalk in a few months. The leaves only unfold after they have finished growing in height.
The largest of their kind grow up to one meter a day and reach a height of almost 40 meters. These record values cannot be achieved in the home garden. But a bamboo that reaches thirty centimeters per day is not uncommon. Depending on the height, a distinction is made between:
- short low bamboo – up to 1 meter
- medium height bamboo – 3 to 7 meters
- high bamboo – up to 15 meters
- Giant bamboo – over 15 meters
Tips & Tricks
If you want to buy bamboo, you should find out about the growth of the plant beforehand. This protects against surprises.