Bambusa bambos

Description

Species: Bambusa bambos

Common name: Giant Thorny Bamboo / Indian Thorny Bamboo / Spiny Bamboo

Growth habit: Clumping bamboo

Height / Culm diameter / Internode length:
25–30 m, sometimes up to 35 m / 10–18 cm, sometimes larger in ideal conditions / 10–15 cm, sometimes longer depending on site conditions

Culm colour / Leaf length / Branching:
Green culms, often becoming dull green to grey-green with age / 12–18 cm leaves / many branches, with lower branches often thorny or spiny

Suitable for:
Commercial cultivation, farm boundary planting, windbreaks, erosion control and biomass production. Less suitable for small gardens because of its large, thorny clumps.

Minimum temperature / Climate:
Approximately −2°C to −3°C once established / Tropical to warm subtropical, preferably humid and wet tropical climates

Annual water requirement / Altitude / Soil / pH:
Approximately 1,000–2,500 mm rainfall or irrigation, performs best with good moisture / 0–1,250 m altitude / prefers rich, moist, well-drained alluvial, loamy or heavier soils / pH approximately 5.5–7.5

Main uses:
Strong construction poles, scaffolding, fencing, farm structures, house building, baskets, mats, paper pulp, edible young shoots, fuel, charcoal, biomass, erosion control, live fencing, windbreaks and protective boundary planting.

Important  note:
Bambusa bambos is a very strong commercial bamboo, but it is thorny.