What is Bamboo and how can you use it?
Bamboo.. recyclable, renewable, sustainable and beautiful.
Bamboo is a relative to the grass family, there are approximately 116 different genera (families) and about 14000 species (branches of relatives) growing in subtropical regions and cold climates worldwide. There is a solid core variety and a predominately hollow cane variety, dwarf species all the way up to the timber height. As importantly, there are runner species and a clump growing species, runners, and wide-spaced clump growers. All grow with below-ground rhizomes.
Bamboo In Architectural Design
Personally, I have used bamboo in design projects, grown it in my nursery, used it for erosion control, and been a member of the Caribbean Bamboo Assn. Yes, I like bamboo a lot because even in the most limited amount of space, bamboo provides a lot of tall privacy screening. It is also what I consider an “architectural-looking” plant in form. If you correctly match variety to location, it is low in maintenance.
Bamboo Is Not Just For Cutting Boards
Although I was passionate about growing and promoting Bamboo, it never went much further with me than this. The problem I encountered was the lack of authentication of species and retail outlets selling it to the public. The runner varieties were most common as they could be reproduced faster than the clumping variety. Hence that was what was generally being sold. Once planted in a landscape, it would be very happy to grow & spread into neighbor’s yards and often a devil to get rid of.
20 years later, Bamboo is making news again, and you can bet I am happy about this wonderful plant sharing the limelight in the sustainable materials conversation. Here are a few things to know and some resources.
The old-school version of bamboo is the natural steam-bent poles made into furniture. Immediately a relaxed tropical ambiance of flamingos, swaying palms, and umbrella-topped beverages is felt. The traditional blonde color results from the heat in the bending process, causing sugars to caramelize.
Today bamboo is being processed in either a stack of laminated strips/boards or into a strand version in which poles are crushed and, with high heat, prepares the bamboo into long fibers. Today, many products are being produced from bamboo ranging from textiles, flooring, wall coverings, paper, kitchen products, etc. Each variety offers unique characteristics best suited to a product. Such as the giant timber bamboo vaariety MOSO for flooring products to structural beams.
Why bamboo is on the list of sustainable materials?
While some trees take 30 years to harvest, Bamboo can grow 3 ft in height overnight.
Production takes less energy than most wood or steel products.
Bamboo material is tough and has many uses.
Reported as consuming 35% more oxygen and absorbing five times the carbon as trees.
Lightweight to ship while being extremely strong.
If you are curious about more information on locating a bamboo expert, growing bamboo yourself, or have general questions, contact me as I have been a big fan of this plant for years and have many resources.
About In Green Living
With In Green Living, Joni Keefe shares nature-based design choices for urban greenspaces and Interior Design. Her interests follow sustainable agriculture, eco-friendly building products, and the latest trends in green design. She is a published writer with horticultural design work featured in national publications.