Bamboo is a plant species that belongs to the grasses (Poaceae). This grass species is hard and, like almost all other grasses, has hollow stems. The bamboo plant is very suitable for making specific sustainable products, but can also serve as a (house) plant. If bamboo is used for human purposes, it is useful to take into account the difference between the various types of bamboo. We distinguish between two types of bamboo: running and clumping bamboo.
Running bamboo species such as Phyllostachys, Pseudosasa and Sasa grow using underground vertical runners, causing them to occupy a large piece of land. When the bamboo is planted in a domestic environment, it is therefore desirable to install a bamboo barrier. Clumping bamboo continues to grow in the same spot and therefore causes little to no nuisance to road traffic or neighbors. The most well-known clumping bamboo species is Fargesia Murieliae. This is a suitable bamboo species for, for example, the garden. Below is the necessary information about running and clumping bamboo and planting them.
Running bamboo
Running bamboo forms underground runners, also called rhizomes. These runners don't grow very deep into the ground, but they can spread very far horizontally. New bamboo shoots emerge from these runners. In the case of running bamboo species, even years after the first bamboo shoot has grown, a new plant can emerge from the ground meters away.
In nature, this is beneficial. Where a first bamboo shoot has to fight for its place in the ground to get all the nutrients, the subsequent bamboo shoots can make use of the network of underground roots. It is therefore possible that from a small weak bamboo plant of a running bamboo species, new and stronger bamboo plants grow several years later. Due to the vertically spreading rhizomes, it can happen that a bamboo forest has completely originated from just one underground bamboo rhizome.
However, running bamboo is less advantageous to plant in the garden or on the balcony. The bamboo species grows uncontrollably, and is so strong and fast that it is difficult to keep the bamboo in check. It is therefore advisable to purchase a bamboo barrier when running bamboo is placed in the garden. An example of a running bamboo species is the aforementioned Phyllostachys. Other common running bamboo species are Pseudo Sasa and Sasa. The Phyllostachys aurea and Pseudosasa japonica also belong to the running bamboo plant species.
Clumping bamboo
Unlike running bamboo, clumping bamboo species do not produce runners and grow from a compact clump. A clump is a u-shaped rhizome that develops upwards. These new rhizomes originate from shoots on an existing rhizome. This stimulates the shoots to multiply within the existing surface area, giving the bamboo clumps a lumpy shape.
In general, clumping bamboo species can withstand drought better than running bamboo species. Compared to running bamboo, clumping bamboo species can dig relatively deep and therefore also live in shady conditions. This root system develops in a compressed clump and grows gradually, usually no more than a few centimeters per year. With clumping bamboo species, there is no need for a root barrier to keep the bamboo together.
Clumping bamboo species grow upwards from a clump. This clump grows as the bamboo also gets bigger and older. This means that when a clumping bamboo plant grows, the clump under the ground also gets bigger in a concentrated spot. This is roughly comparable to the growth of trees: as the bamboo gets older, the concentrated clump under the ground also gets bigger. There are different types of bamboo that are categorized as clumping bamboo species, such as Fargesia Murieliae, Bambusa and Borinda for example.
The Fargesia is the most used bamboo species. There are few plants that can hide unwanted views and intrusiveness so quickly and effectively. Fargesia is a fine-leaved bamboo species that grows in stakes and does not spread. Moreover, it is a bamboo species that can be used along the pond, as a beautiful hedge and in pots.
Planting bamboo
Bamboo is a popular garden plant, particularly due to its rapid growth and long thin stems. Some bamboo is suitable for planting in a more tropical climate, while others are suitable for a more urban environment. Clumping bamboo, for example, works well as a natural barrier. Running bamboo is more difficult to control and if a bamboo barrier is not used, they quickly outgrow their space. When running bamboo gets out of hand, it is very difficult to remove.
Most bamboo species thrive in moist, well-drained soil. Most soil types are sufficient for planting bamboo, but some do better in acidic soil. Also, most bamboo species like sun, but some clumping bamboo plants like Sasa, can be grown in the shade. It is most favorable to plant bamboo in the spring to stimulate the development of strong roots and stalks before the bamboo goes dormant in the fall.
There are various reasons to plant bamboo: to create height, to create a beautiful hedge, to form a separation or to cover a wall. The advantage of planting bamboo compared to, for example, (ornamental) grasses, is that bamboo generally retains its fresh green color throughout the year. Grasses only remain green in rare cases, in a mild winter. After this, they need to be cut back in length, causing a loss of privacy. Bamboo does not need to be pruned: it is only desirable to occasionally remove some dry leaves from between the plants.
All in all, all types of bamboo can be divided into two categories: running and clumping bamboo. These two types of bamboo differ in the way they grow. Running bamboo does not grow very deep into the ground and grows vertically, allowing multiple bamboo plants to grow from one bamboo rhizome for years, up to kilometers away. Clumping bamboo, on the other hand, grows deeper into the ground and is concentrated in one spot, creating a concentrated group of bamboo stems. Clumping bamboo is therefore the most favorable when one wants to plant bamboo themselves in the garden or on the balcony.
Bamboi toilet paper is made from Neosinocalamus affinis, a clumping bamboo plant. Our bamboo toilet paper has many advantages and is produced in China, where large bamboo forests can be found. Order our bamboo toilet paper here! Also read everything about our CO2 footprint.
