Top 10 Bamboo Plants To Grow In Your Home Garden

Did you know India is in the second spot globally for bamboo production? Isn’t that amazing? And what’s even more awesome is the fact that the bamboo plants are actually grasses. Weird, right? Well, it is what it is. These woody grasses are grown overall in India, except in the freezing regions of Kashmir. They are most often caught in the green locations of northeast India, especially in Assam. There are about one hundred and fifty species of such plants all over India and more than a thousand globally! Let’s learn how to grow these robust grasses in our backyards for a uniquely defining look!

What Are Bamboo Plants?

Bamboo plants belong to the flowering family of the Poaceae genus, which multiplies with low maintenance and care. They are the tallest species belonging to this genus; they can reach up to sixty-five feet on maturity. Bamboo plants are of perennial nature, with hollow stems owning a diameter of up to eight inches and a flowering potential that blossoms more towards the end of the plant’s life.

These plants can live longer than most humans, residing in our surroundings for up to a hundred years or even more. Towards the end of their lives, such greenery produces flowers and seeds and then withers out. Although a lover of tropical regions, most bamboos manage to flourish in higher altitudes and ice-cold climates. The best part is that one can grow them in their backyards and etch a tropical aura to one’s garden.

What Are The Types Of Bamboo Plants?

They are majorly categorized into two kinds - runners and clumpers. Although these two bifurcations further bifurcate into many, the simple differentiation lies in how these two types grow. So in layman's terms, while the runner bamboo plants grow rhizomes underground, the clumpers don’t do the same. This growth pattern makes the runners quite invasive and the clumper bamboo plants non-invasive.

But this might surprise you that the runners are grown more commonly in Indian gardens due to their easy propagation and fast maturity. However, a good blend of bamboo should include both runners & clumpers so that one will have ample variety, and the latter type will also keep the former’s growth a bit controlled.

What Are Lucky Bamboo Plants?

These come under the jurisdiction of small bamboo plants indoors, as they are mostly seen thriving either in filtered light or complete shade. They are considered lucky per Vastu and Feng Shui, so people worldwide grow them at home and office to gain certain luck benefits. Also, lucky bamboo is one of the rare ones that can handle water and soil propagations. The bamboo plant indoor benefits include an invitation to wealth, success, prosperity, love, and luck.

What Are The Top 10 Bamboo Plants In India?

It’s impossible to talk about all the bamboo species found in India, so we have carefully catered a list of the most popular bamboo plants nationwide:

1. Bamboo Striata

Also known as common bamboo, this is the most typical bamboo variety in India. It grows with golden-colored stems that are neither straight nor bent, as they have a unique rigidity to their build. However, the bamboo striata rarely flower due to the minor pollen activity, yet it looks like an ornament cladded in the garden. Its dark green leaves look glossy in the warm areas of tropical countries like India. This bamboo variety is also pretty valuable for making toys and furniture. Besides that, its ornamental value is high, being a hedge, fence, and privacy screening plant.

2. Bambusa Tulda

Isn’t it a matter of pride that the most useful bamboo variants worldwide are local to India? Bambusa Tulda has an itch for monotony and routine, which makes it appear a bit dull with a light green and greyish body. This plant can reach astonishing heights of twenty-three meters. It is also known as Bengal bamboo and Indian timber in the green community. This bamboo has immense utility for the paper pulp industries.

3. Bambusa Polymorpha

Also called Burmese bamboo, this plant can grow up to thirty meters with its thickety appearance. When young, it carries a brownish-green hue, but it later matures with a greenish-grey shade. Its culms tend to branch out in clusters, giving it an eye-catchy & attractive personality. This plant serves in the making of furniture, construction of houses, landscaping, and creation of handicrafts. Moreover, it has edible shoots that taste kind of sweet.

4. Bambusa Balcooa

This is one of the most helpful bamboo varieties, hailing from the Indian subcontinent. Commonly called female bamboo, this plant can gain an escalation of up to eighty feet. It has numerous uses, as almost every part of this plant serves in one way or another. For instance, its stems are often used to construct bridges, its shoots are a common vegetable, and its leaves make for excellent fodder for cattle. Moreover, agricultural equipment and mats also find this one as their raw material.

5. Bambusa Arundinacea

Another name for this variety is Bambusa Bambos, and it belongs to the tropical regions of India. This bamboo makes up fifteen percent of the overall bamboo production in the country. It grows old with a shiny green personality studded with thorns, which is why it is also called thorny and spiny bamboo. Its strength allows it to become a part of bridge manufacturing while the leaflets are used for thatching and fodder. Also, young shoots are often consumed as a vegetable in India.

6. Bambusa Nana

One of the most ornamental bamboo varieties, the Bambusa Nana is a must-have for decorative gardeners. This plant is perfect for hedging and will look stunning when used as a privacy screen. Its leaves are quite silky, and they hang from the erect shoots of the plant. If you wish to create a tropical setting in your garden, this plant is the answer. It is slowly taking over every garden in the tropics to become the favorite cultivar when it comes to decor & styling.

7. Melocanna Baccifera

Another superb bamboo variety with a hometown in India, this plant is known for its beauty worldwide. It can reach up to sixty-five feet and flower every forty-eight years. Also called berry bamboo, its strength makes it a pick for the construction industry. This gorgeous variety can, however, take an aggressive attitude while growing, so it is better to keep it groomed through regular prune sessions.

8. Dendrocalamus Giganteus

Commonly called dragon bamboo in the southern regions of India, this plant has broken all elevation records. Although it usually grows up to thirty meters, Andhra Pradesh recorded a growth of up to forty-two meters. This is a sturdy bamboo variety with thick stems and lush-green foliage. It is also one of the largest bamboo varieties in the world. However, in southern parts of our country, it is mainly propagated to be used in handicrafts.

9. Gigantochloa Rostrata

This is an evergreen type of bamboo plant that is primarily seen in the eastern regions of India, along with Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Its tufted culms take an elevation of about twenty-six feet on maturity, while the thickness revolves around five centimeters. This perennial bamboo looks attractive when grown in backyards in a proper environment.

10. Dandocalamus Strictus

Although the name seems like some magical spell straight out of harry potter, it is not so. Some gardeners also know it by the names of male bamboo and Calcutta bamboo. This plant can take a maximum height of about seventy feet with dense branches and green foliage. It sometimes also gets pregnant with pretty white blossoms. Being a robust variant, it is often used to construct agricultural tools, handles, furniture, mats, baskets, etc.

How To Grow The Best Bamboo Plants For Home?

Although bamboo cultivation has been a part of Indian gardening for the past six thousand years, it is still not as prevalent as other forms of greenery, which is why some can get chills at the idea of its propagation. But worry not because here’s a general guideline that will allow you to proceed further without much fuss:

➤ Bamboo Propagation

There are two ways by which you can go about this - use seeds to propagate from the beginning or use culms/rhizomes to start somewhere in the middle. While seeds are first potted in the nursery pots and grown till the seedlings approve for transplantation, the rhizome method asks us to use one-year culms with roots cut into parts for the same. However, you can always pick a well-grown variety from stores like ours to reduce the patience window.

➤ Climatic Conditions

The first prerequisite to growing flourishing bamboo plants at home is to learn about their weather preferences. These woody plants love the tropics, requiring apt warmth and humidity to grow gracefully. Ensure they stay protected from heavy winds and too much cold.

➤ Soil Requirements

These sturdy plants can manage their growth in numerous soils except rocky ones. The pH should range from 4.5 to 6.0; the soil must contain clay and sandy qualities. Bamboo also requires ample moisture in the tropical heat, so ensure the soil retains moisture without getting waterlogged.

➤ Proper Nourishment

Bamboo plants require generous doses of nutrients such as garden manure, chemical fertilizers, etc. They will look forward to bouts of treats rich in potassium and nitrogen from their early years. Remember, the better you feed the bamboo, the better it will yield.

➤ Hydration

From sowing seeds to transplanting seedlings to maturing bamboo, they will always require generous amounts of water. One may install a drip irrigation system for proper watering and can also use a watering can to do it on one’s own. No matter what you choose, the plants must stay moist without drowning in a pool of water.

➤ Insect Attacks

Like most plants, bamboo is also prone to attracting insects and pests. The best way to keep those bugs away is by spraying insecticides like neem oil and natural pesticide for plants. These will keep your bamboo safe from predators, aiding them to grow peacefully with great health.

Conclusion:

Bamboo plantations are easy to follow, but they require some patience from the gardener’s side. These plants tend to take about five years of consistency and patience to reach the level of harvesting. However, once they grow old, you will love how they look in your backyards. It is also unnecessary to use them for commercial purposes, as they can be forever used to adorn your lovely gardens.

Online gardening markets like ours have ample varieties available at just a click! The magic of the internet has made it possible for you to grab these beautiful plants without leaving your home! So, you can order bamboo plants online and stay carefree as your parcel gets delivered within a few days. We hope your gardening experience with the mighty bamboo goes smoothly!

FAQs About Top Bamboo Plants In India

Ques: What Is The Best Time To Plant Bamboo?

Ans: The ideal time for bamboo propagation is the rainy season in India.

Ques: How Long Do Bamboo Plants Last?

Ans: Bamboo plants are pretty hardy, so they have a long lifespan of up to a century or even more.

Ques: Can I Grow Bamboo Plants In Containers?

Ans: Yes, one may propagate and maintain them in planters sized large. One may choose any material, but wooden planters will work best.

Ques: What Is The Significance Of Planting Bamboo At Home?

Ans: Bamboo plants benefits include decorating the gardens in a unique way. They also make for a perfect privacy screen and hedging plantations. Besides this, they are used globally in construction projects, agricultural tools, baskets, mats, etc.

Ques: When Should One Harvest Bamboo Plants?

Ans: In the case of commercial uses, bamboo will be ready for harvest after the sixth year of its growth.