how long do bamboos grow

How Long Do Bamboos Grow? A Complete Guide on Bamboo Growth Rate and Lifespan

Bamboos are one of the fastest growing plants on Earth Their rapid growth rate and versatile uses make them a popular choice for gardens and landscaping projects But how long do bamboos actually take to reach their full height? And what factors determine their growth rate? This comprehensive guide examines everything you need to know about bamboo growth cycles.

What is Bamboo?

Bamboos belong to the grass family and have over 1,000 different species They are woody perennial plants that can grow to heights of 10-120 feet depending on the species Unlike trees, bamboos have hollow stems called culms that are supported by rings of vascular tissue. Their root systems consist of underground stems called rhizomes which continuously send up new shoots. Bamboos are mainly native to Asia but some species also grow in Africa, Australia and the Americas.

How Fast Does Bamboo Grow?

The growth rate of bamboo is nothing short of astonishing. Some species can grow over 3 feet in just 24 hours under ideal conditions! The Guinness World Record for fastest growing plant belongs to a particular bamboo species that grew 35 inches within a day.

Here’s an overview of the typical bamboo growth rate:

• In the first year after planting, minimal vertical growth as roots establish underground.

• Second year onwards, new shoots emerge rapidly reaching heights of several feet per year.

• During peak growing season (spring), bamboo can grow up to 1 inch per hour.

• Mature groves may reach maximum height within 3-5 years depending on species.

• Running bamboo varieties tend to grow faster (up to 5 feet annually) than clumping types (1-3 feet per year).

This phenomenal growth rate makes bamboo perfect for creating privacy screens and hedges in a short time. Their ability to regenerate after harvesting also results in exceptionally high yields compared to trees.

Bamboo Growth Stages

Bamboo goes through distinct growth phases during its lifecycle:

Year 1 – Establishment Stage:

The first year after planting involves minimal vertical growth. The bamboo plant focuses its energy on developing a strong root system and rhizome network underground. Be patient, as you may not notice much visible growth above ground during this time.

Year 2 – Emergence of New Shoots:

In the second spring after planting, you’ll notice new shoots emerging rapidly from the ground around the original plant. This signals the beginning of the bamboo’s fast growing period. The new shoots grow vigorously for around 60 days before slowing down.

Year 3 Onwards – Rapid Growth Stage:

Once well established (typically in the 3rd year post-planting), the bamboo grove enters a phase of exponential growth. The new canes generated each spring grow increasingly bigger in height and diameter compared to previous years. The colony continues expanding underground, supporting larger shoots.

Maturity Stage:

Depending on the species, bamboo will eventually reach its maximum height and girth within 3 to 10 years of planting. At this stage, the bamboo grove has likely reached its peak density and becomes ready for harvest. The lifecycle then continues as new shoots emerge to replace culms that get harvested periodically.

Factors That Determine Bamboo Growth Rate

Several key factors influence the speed at which bamboo grows:

• Climate – Warm, humid conditions with mild winters encourage faster bamboo growth. Tropical climates are ideal.

• Sunlight – Bamboos need at least 4 hours of direct sun daily for vigorous growth. More sunlight results in taller, bigger culms.

• Soil – Well-draining, nutrient-rich soil with a neutral pH around 7 is optimal for bamboo. But they can tolerate a range of soil conditions.

• Water – Plentiful moisture is crucial, especially while establishing. But bamboo is drought-tolerant once matured.

• Spacing – Wider spacing allows each plant to grow to its full potential size. Closer spacing means slower growth.

• Species – Running bamboo varieties inherently grow much faster than clumping types.

• Fertilization – Using a balanced fertilizer accelerates growth rates significantly.

With the right growing conditions, you can maximize the growth potential of bamboo in your yard or garden.

Typical Bamboo Lifespan

Given proper care, bamboo can thrive for many decades. The typical lifespan of a bamboo plant is:

• Individual culms (stems) – 10 to 15 years depending on species

• Entire plant – Can live over 100 years with proper maintenance

• Rhizome root system – Persists indefinitely by continuously shooting up new culms

So while individual stems may only last 10-15 years, the bamboo plant itself can technically live indefinitely through its ever-expanding underground rhizome network. As older culms die off, new shoots emerge to replace them year after year. This unique growing habit makes bamboo an extremely renewable resource.

How to Speed Up Bamboo Growth

Here are some useful tips to accelerate bamboo growth in your yard:

• Start with large, healthy rhizomes for faster establishment.

• Plant in full sun (at least 6 hours daily) and give plenty of water.

• Use organic fertilizer or nitrogen-rich formulas to boost growth.

• Wider initial spacing of plants allows them to grow bigger.

• Mulch thickly to retain soil moisture and suppress weeds.

• Prune away dead culms to allow more light and air circulation.

• Select running bamboo varieties which have inherently faster growth.

• Grow in USDA Zone 8-10 for optimal temperature conditions.

With the right care, you can potentially shave 1-2 years off the time for your bamboo to reach maturity. But remember that patience is key, as bamboo grows in spurts and needs time to establish extensive rhizome networks underground before exploding upwards.

Controlling Bamboo Growth

The ultra-fast growth of bamboo can sometimes be a double-edged sword. Without control measures, bamboo’s aggressive spreading habit can lead them to invade unwanted areas. Here are some ways to control bamboo growth:

• Physical barriers – Install rhizome barrier sheets around bamboo to contain root spread.

• Regular pruning – Cutting away new shoots and trimming the rhizomes stops expansion.

• Harvesting culms – Regularly removing mature canes deprives the plant of energy for new growth.

• Dense planting – Intense competition for space and resources between plants slows down spread.

• Reduce watering – Limiting moisture slows the growth rate once established.

For highly aggressive running bamboo, containment strategies are a must. On the other hand, clumping bamboo varieties are much easier to control with minimal intervention needed.

Final Thoughts

In optimum conditions, bamboos are capable of extremely rapid growth – unrivaled by few other plants. But this vitality must be properly harnessed through pruning, barriers and harvesting. With prudent control measures, bamboo’s vigorous nature can be channeled constructively to create stunning landscapes and abundant biomass. If given the space and care, bamboos will reward you with their captivating beauty and versatility for years to come.

The lifespan of a bamboo plant varies significantly depending on the species, environment, and care it receives. Individual bamboo culms (canes) typically live for 5 to 10 years, while a bamboo grove or colony can persist for decades or even centuries. Some bamboo species flower once, produce seeds, and then die, which can happen after decades or even a century.