Back when I was running a bamboo boutique, this would happen two or three times a week. A customer walks into the store with a look of determination on his or her face and asks if we sell any “actual bamboo”. Now, I have a thorough appreciation for a customer who knows what they want, but since this was an all-bamboo store, and virtually every item was made from bamboo, it was hard to miss the irony. So I’d usually just raise my eyebrows in expectation and wait for a more specific request. Often as not, they would turn out to be looking for Lucky Bamboo. Which was even more ironic.

Lucky Bamboo is the common name of a popular houseplant, Dracaena sanderiana, which does not belong to the bamboo subfamily of grasses. There are more than 1,500 species and cultivars of bamboo, and this is not one of them. Lucky Bamboo belongs to the asparagus family and is unrelated to true bamboo. But it is genuinely lucky. Asian cultures have long used Dracaena sanderiana to enhance their Feng Shui.

Note: This article was most recently updated in October 2026.

What is Lucky Bamboo?

Dracaena sanderiana resembles bamboo in appearance, but is actually a hardy houseplant that thrives in water (no soil needed) and requires little or no natural sunlight, making it perfect for offices, bathrooms, and other indoor settings. Its appearance and ultra low-maintenance are probably what earned it the name Lucky Bamboo. But as a member of the family Asparagaceae, this adorable houseplant is actually more closely related to asparagus than bamboo.

In the Far East, especially China and Taiwan, Dracaena sanderiana has long been revered as a great remedy for Feng Shui and a source of good luck. Maybe it’s the fact that it’s so darned easy to grow. Also, it can be trained and shaped nearly as easily as a balloon animal. It’s not clear how or when the idea came to be, but today Lucky Bamboo is placed in homes and businesses around the world as a way of attracting prosperity and good fortune.

One of the most distinguishing features of Lucky Bamboo is how well it grows in a vase of water. Without need for soil, the light green stalks produce a profusion of stringy, white root tendrils that get all their nutrition from the tap water. It’s advisable to change the water about once a week, as you would with a vase of flowers. I like to use bottled water or mineral water, but avoid distilled water, which has had all the trace minerals removed.

PRO TIP: Add a few stalks of Lucky Bamboo to a fish tank for some additional interest. The fish excrement will give the plants an extra nutritional boost.

Another curious fact about this Oriental talisman, the Dracaena sanderiana is actually native to tropical Africa. Although today, when you see markets, florists and boutiques selling Lucky Bamboo, these specimens are almost always imported from China or Taiwan. In many cases, the stalks are shaped into spirals or hearts, and set in ornamental vases or pots resplendent with fortuitous iconography from the Far East. Odd numbers of stalks are considered to be the most propitious.

So yes, in fact, it is quite lucky, but bamboo it’s not.

What is Bamboo?

The 1,400+ varieties of true bamboo technically belong to the grass family, Poaceae. Among these 1,400 or so strains (some say the actual number of bamboo species and cultivars is closer to 2000), you will discover a great variation in appearance and growth habit. Bamboos do grow all across the globe, from southern Chile to the tropics to the Himalayas, with species indigenous to five continents. Generally, they prefer a steady supply of water, but there are a few more drought-tolerant species. (Refer to our Complete Guide to Growing Bamboo for more details.)

Despite that great diversity, there is a certain characteristic consistency that makes bamboo fairly recognizable. Everyone knows that bamboo grows up in shoots, mostly cylindrical, although there are a few more square-ish strains. The striking similarity between bamboos actually makes the different species very difficult to distinguish, particularly for the novice hobbyist gardener. At the same time, there are a handful of look-a-likes, including Lucky Bamboo, that can be very easily mistaken for true bamboo.

Contrasting characteristics

Lucky Bamboo is recognizable for its light green, cylindrical stems, often clustered together similar to a grove of bamboo. You can also see a segmentation of the stem that resembles the nodal joints of bamboo. But on closer inspection, one can see that the Lucky Bamboo stems are soft and tender, unlike real bamboo with its woody stems, and the nodes are less pronounced. The branching pattern on true bamboo is quite different as well. Leaves grow directly on the stems, whereas bamboo first forms branches then petioles that connect the leaf to the branch.

Growing conditions

Bamboo in water

While Lucky Bamboo makes a delightful, decorative houseplant, true bamboos are all grasses. Bamboo, like any grass, is meant to grow outdoors, in the earth, wind and sun. There’s a misconception that bamboo can grow directly in a pond or a swamp, similar to Lucky Bamboo. But that’s not true. Bamboo roots will rot if they are submerged in soggy soil for too long. A few species of so-called “Water Bamboo” are more tolerant of saturated soil, but will only survive a few days in those conditions. While Lucky Bamboo is typically grown directly in water, in a vase or a pitcher without soil, real bamboo can’t grow this way. In fact, for the best long-term results, Lucky Bamboo needs its water changed and refreshed pretty regularly, and eventually it will need more nutrients than the water alone can provide, so liquid fertilizer or transplanting into soil is recommended.

Growing indoors

Many gardeners want to keep a pot of bamboo growing indoors, but again, most true bamboo will not survive. Real bamboo generally requires full or at least partial sun exposure (depending on the species), some type of soil medium, and should almost always be grown outdoors.

Grasses need sunlight, and they also need the fresh air and change of temperature they experience outdoors. Indoor bamboo will often yellow from sun deprivation or get attacked by pests. Some dwarf bamboo varieties do alright indoors, as they are smaller and more accustomed to growing in the shady understory, but this is still not ideal. (See our detailed article on Growing Bamboo Indoors to learn more.)

Lucky Bamboo, on the other hand, as mentioned above, thrives in dimly lit quarters indoors. That’s why Lucky Bamboo does well in a bathroom with little or no natural light, where true bamboo would languish and die.

Because the Bambu Batu boutique was located indoors, with one large, east-facing window, it wasn’t so easy to keep a true bamboo plant happy and healthy. We generally kept one specimen by the front door, where it got good sun and a decent amount of fresh air. But I would also rotate it with other potted bamboo specimens from my home garden, so they were never stuck indoors for too long a stretch.

Frequently Asked Questions about Lucky Bamboo

Is lucky bamboo real bamboo?

No. Lucky bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana) is a tropical African plant in the asparagus family, Asparagaceae. Its slender, jointed stems resemble bamboo culms, but it is botanically unrelated to true bamboo, which belongs to the grass family, Poaceae.

Can lucky bamboo grow in water forever?

Lucky bamboo can grow in water for extended periods, provided the water is kept clean and the plant receives adequate nutrients. However, growing it in a suitable potting medium is also an option. Water alone may not supply everything the plant needs over the long term.

Can you grow real bamboo indoors?

Yes, but it can be challenging. Most bamboo species need more light and space than a typical indoor environment provides. Small, shade-tolerant species may adapt to containers indoors, particularly with careful attention to light, watering and root pruning.

Is lucky bamboo actually lucky?

In Chinese and other East Asian traditions, lucky bamboo is associated with good fortune, prosperity and positive energy, often through the principles of feng shui. The number and arrangement of stalks can carry symbolic meanings. These are cultural beliefs rather than scientifically established effects.

Can lucky bamboo be planted outdoors?

In suitable warm climates, lucky bamboo can grow outdoors in a sheltered location with indirect or filtered light. It is sensitive to cold and frost, so outdoor cultivation depends on local conditions. In cooler climates, it is generally best treated as a houseplant.

More lucky learning

To learn more about the many uses and auspicious connotations relating to bamboo, take a look at these other articles:

• Bamboo Symbolism and Mythology
• Bamboo Proverbs
• Deep Meaning of Panda Bears
• Hemp vs Bamboo: The ultimate comparison

PHOTO CREDIT: Toni Cuenca (Unsplash)