Bamboozled– Jim and Belinda Nilon

380 Huxley Road

North Isis, Queensland, 4660

Ph 0741266093 Mob 0412 800690

Email: info@bamboozled.biz

Why bamboo?

Why Bamboo?

 

Bamboo is giant grass. There are dozens of genera and over 1500 species of bamboo worldwide. Like other grasses it grows in two distinct forms (though some species display features of both forms).

 

The Running form (sometimes called monopodial) spreads through running rhizomes that skip along the surface of the soil-(like couch grass). These bamboos are temperate plants that grow best in southern parts of Australia. They can become aggressive colonisers and are not generally recommended for growing in the ground in suburban gardens. Running bamboos produce some excellent timber and edible shoots. They also make great pot plants as they are shallow rooted and will grow quite tall and bushy in a pot. However their invasive behaviour has given them a very poor name.

 

The Clumping form (sometimes called sympodial) is a tropical or sub-tropical plant. The rhizomes on clumping bamboos are bulky and clump together joined by rhizome “necks” –like lemongrass. This plant will grow in clumps and depending on environmental conditions after 8-10 years will reach a stable size. These plants are non-invasive.

 

Clumping bamboos grow particularly well in Queensland. Some clumpers are frost and drought tolerant and can be grown in southern parts of Australia. Clumpers produce some great quality edible shoots and in some instances massive timber. They vary in size from just a few metres high to over thirty metres. They come in many colours, shapes and sizes. They make great landscaping features. Bamboos are also used extensively as windbreaks. Bamboos are environmentally sensitive. How well a bamboo grows will be highly dependent on its environmental conditions. They are forest under story plants and will often grow most vigorously where they have to compete for light.

 

Bamboos are renowned for their value as “clean air” plants. Bamboo is one of nature’s most efficient converters of CO2 to oxygen. They also boast the capacity to tolerant grey and even black water- converting salts and heavy metals into green leafy material.