Is Bamboo a Grass or a Plant?

True bamboo is one of the largest members of the grass family.

Bamboo has become a sought-after garden and house plant, and it is important to know what kind of plant you have so that you can provide proper care. The various plants commonly known as bamboo are members of several different plant families, but true bamboo is classified by scientists as a grass.

True Bamboo

Black-stemmed bamboo is a member of the grass family.

True bamboo has hollow, segmented stems with thick joints called nodes. There are more than 1,000 species of bamboo in more than 100 genera, according to W.P. Armstrong of Palomar College. Most bamboos are classified as members of various subfamilies and tribes of the Poacaea family, which includes the grasses that are used as food, like wheat, rice, oats and barley. Several of the larger reeds and canes are often called bamboo because of their resemblance to the true bamboo plant.

Types of Bamboo

Running bamboos spread quickly if not controlled.

True bamboos are divided into two types based on their growth habits. Clumping bamboos tend to be easier to control than running bamboos because they do not spread. Running bamboos, on the other hand, can quickly spread out of control in the garden or in the wild. Their new growth appears on shoots that appear from underground rhizomes. In addition to these types, bamboos can be classed by cane size. Bamboos can range in size from less than 1/2-inch in diameter to several inches across; the largest of these plants are called giant bamboos.

Heavenly Bamboo

Heavenly bamboo, also called sacred bamboo or nandina, is actually Nandina domestica -- a member of the barberry family. This evergreen shrub has slightly segmented stems and produces clusters of bright, white flowers that mature into red berries. It is not a true bamboo, but does resemble some of the smaller species in the bamboo family.

Lucky Bamboo

Lucky bamboo is not a true bamboo. It is a member of the lily family.

The houseplant known as lucky bamboo is not a grass. It is Dracaena sanderiana, a member of the lily family. These plants have segmented stems that contain a solid core of tissues that transport water and nutrients through the plant. Lucky bamboo is not a true bamboo, but its segmented, bright green stems resemble many of the plants in the bamboo family.

References

• Palomar College, Wayne's Word: "Bamboo: Remarkable Giant Grasses"
• University of Illinois Extension: Plant Palette, "Dracena"; Jennifer Schultz Nelson; Feb. 10, 2008
• Smithsonian Institution, Horticulture: Ornamental Grasses Fact Sheet
• University of Arizona Pima County Cooperative Extension: Nandina domestica