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Buddha Belly Bamboo: Bambusa ventricosa and others
A fast-growing clumper with an unmistakable profile, Buddha Belly stands out as one of the most popular bamboo varieties for ornamental cultivation. Bulging, swollen internodes evoke the chubby belly of the Laughing Buddha, making this distinct species a well-known...
Plants that look like bamboo (but aren’t)
The world of bamboo is rich and diverse. With about 1,500 varieties to keep track of, it's easy to get lost. Some bamboos stretch over 100 feet high, taller than most trees. Other dwarf species only grow up to a few inches. But with the general similarities common to...
Golden Bamboo: Phyllostachys aurea and others
Golden bamboo is an extremely common variety used in gardens and landscaping. The name golden bamboo, however, can refer to several different species with very different characteristics. The species most commonly known as golden bamboo is Phyllostachys aurea, a...
Hiroshima Bamboo: Hibanobambusa tranquillans ‘Shiroshima’
If you wander around the internet reading about bamboo — and I'm guessing that you do — you'll eventually come across a story of how bamboo was one of the only living things to survive after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in 1945. Other versions tell us that bamboo...
Bambusa beecheyana: Bamboo for cultivation and cuisine
When it comes to farming bamboo, one of the first questions you encounter is which species to grow. Depending on the climate, growers may have dozens of suitable bamboo species to choose from. Of course, the answer will depend largely on what you want to do with the...
Tortoise Shell Bamboo: Phyllostachys edulis Heterocycla
When you go looking for attractive, ornamental bamboo, you'll eventually see images or hear mention of Tortoise Shell Bamboo. Even the name has an irresistibly exotic allure. Indeed, it's one of the most interesting varieties of bamboo to look at. And while it may not...