Is Bamboo a Grass or a Tree?

Bamboo (Bambuseae) is a member of the Poaceae plant family, a family of grass plants. Bamboo is a fast-growing plant and its shoots are often harvested and used for culinary purposes. Extracts from bamboo plants are used in Chinese medicine.

Bamboo Plant Bamboo is a perennial grass plant with hollow circular stems. With varieties growing up to 100 feet tall, bamboo can often be mistaken as a tree instead of a grass. The plant is actually a grass and is one of the fastest growing plants in the world.

Cultivation of Bamboo Bamboo plants are best grown in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 to 10. The root ball of the bamboo can be planted during any season in these zones. The new plants must be kept moist at all times to develop substantial root systems. Depending on the type of bamboo planted, it will need full sun, partial sun or shade.

Harvesting Bamboo Bamboo shoots can be harvested each spring when they have grown 6 inches above the soil. The stems of bamboo plants, often referred to as poles, need at least three years of maturity before harvesting.

About the Author Grace Wathen is a certified yoga, Pilates and raw nutrition instructor. Her dedication to health and wellness motivated her to organize and build several community gardens in Utah, Oregon and Nevada. She has been sharing her expertise on the above topics through online publishers since 2007.