-
Step 1
Understand the habitat and range of bamboo plants. They grow in a variety of environments, including the tropics, temperate climates and cold mountainous regions. Bamboo is found all over the world, including Asia, Africa and North America.
-
Step 2
Marvel at the variety of heights of bamboo plants that can range from 30 cm (1 ft) to 1828 cm (60 ft) in height when they grow in the wild. Mature bamboo plants can also grow very fast; up to several feet in a single day.
-
Step 3
Observe the general appearance of a bamboo plant. They have large woody stems that range from .6 cm to 20 cm in diameter. The stems are usually jointed, often hollow and branches can grow out of these joints. Leaves grow out of the branches in larger bamboo plants.
-
Step 4
Learn about the distinctive characteristics of individual species of bamboo plants. The stems or shoots of a bamboo plant often have characteristics that allow them to be differentiated from other plant varieties. These characteristics include the color of the shoot, the shape of the shoot and the individual parts of the shoot. In addition, different bamboo species shoot at different times of the year and this can also aid in identification.
-
Step 5
Purchase a book on bamboo identification. Because there are over 1200 species of bamboo plants, a detailed book on identifying those species is crucial. A good book to consider is "The Gardener's Guide to Growing Temperate Bamboos" published by Timber Press.
