Bamboo Fun Facts

The bamboo plant has many environmental and economic benefits.

The fastest growing woody plant in the world, bamboo is a robust and versatile plant with numerous environmental and economic benefits. Although technically in the grass family, bamboo plants are as hard and durable as hardwoods.

Growth

The bamboo plant has the fastest growth rate of all plants. Under ideal soil and climactic conditions, bamboo can grow as much as 47 inches in a 24-hour period -- that's almost 2 inches per hour. Some species of bamboo reach maturity, and thus can be harvested, in as little as three years. Prehistoric bamboo plants towered over their contemporary counterparts, reaching up to 250 feet.

Environment

Bamboo is heralded as a green material and recognized by the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. The plant releases 35 percent more oxygen into the environment compared to trees and requires little or no intervention for its regeneration, such as using pesticides or fertilizers. These traits make the bamboo plant ideal for re-greening degraded lands.

Economy

Bamboo plays an important role in providing housing, income and food to more than 2.2 billion people all over the world. In the U.S., annual consumption is projected to reach $20 billion by the year 2015. Areas of potential growth include bamboo shoots, pulp, furniture and paper.

References

• Tru Bamboo: Bamboo Facts
• Green by Design: Fun Facts about Bamboo