Giant Thorny Bamboo ( Bambusa bambos ) is a giant clumping bamboo. The culms grow curved unlike many other bamboo varieties, which grow straight. As a fast-growing species it can be used for screening and is easy to grow in the right conditions. Bambusa bambos can be helpful for land stabilisation and is great to use as a wind break, because of its height and thick, densely clumping nature.
Although this is a tropical bamboo native to India, Bangladesh, and Southeast China, it has also been naturalised in temperate regions.
Other common names for the Bambusa bambos are Spiky Bamboo & Indian Thorny Bamboo.
Thorny Bamboo has a huge range of uses and is farmed & cultivated because of this. The shoots and seeds are edible. The shoots are considered a vegetable, but seeds are only usually eaten as a supplement during famine.
Thorny Bamboo is heavily used in construction. The timber is used to build are bridges, ladders, and rafts as well as roofing and scaffolding. It is also used for basket weaving, to make utensils, bows and arrows and furniture. On top of all these uses, it is an important source of paper pulp.
Bambusa bambos has many medicinal uses.
Growth
This species can grow up to a whopping 20-30 metres high and has bright green foliage. Bamboo can be cut off at a preferred height and will not continue to grow taller once this is done. It will continue to branch and become thicker after cutting though. Adult leaf (blade) length is 7-18 cm, culms can be up to 15 cm in diameter and internode length is 15-45 cm in length. As the common name suggests, Thorny Bamboo does have thorns. The spikes are found on the branch nodes and there are 1-3 thorns on each, so care should be taken when pruning.
Although many Bamboo varieties are quick growing, they can be a little slower while they are still young, in their first couple of years.
Note: Germination instructions can be found in the ‘Germination Instructions Tab’ below. Upon purchase you will receive these detailed instructions via email so that you have a permanent record.
FAMILY:
Poaceae
CLIMATE:
Temperate, Sub Tropical, Tropical
TEMPERATURE RANGE:
2 to 50°C / 35 to 120°F – can become deciduous in cooler climates.
SOIL TYPE:
Prefers well-draining soil but because it is native to tropical zones will cope easily with wet season soils and can grow near waterways.
LOCATION:
Full Sun
HEIGHT:
Up to 30 metres (98 feet)
WIDTH:
Up to 20 metres eventual spread (65 feet)
pH:
4.5-6.5 is the recommended level but this species will be fine between ranges of 4.0-7.0
GROWTH TYPE:
Evergreen, Perennial, Clumping (Can be deciduous in temperate winters)
WATER REQUIREMENTS:
Medium water requirements. Thorny Bamboo needs extra water during summer.
POLLINATION:
Wind Pollinated
MATURITY:
12 years
GERMINATION RATES:
74%
GERMINATION TIME:
3-12 weeks, dependent on conditions
GERMINATION DIFFICULTY:
Reasonably Easy
SEEDS PER GRAM:
Approximately 94-98
MEDICINAL QUALITIES:
Yes
WEED POTENTIAL:
Bambusa bambos is an invasive weed in Cuba.
EDIBLE:
Yes, shoots and seeds. This species is cultivated for its edible shoots.
SEED STORAGE & VIABILITY:
Cold Storage at 4°C (Fridge) up to 2 years.
FACTS ABOUT BAMBUSA BAMBOS (Thorny Bamboo)
Bambusa bambos is great for privacy screening because of its rapid growth and thick, clumping habit.
Giant Thorny Bamboo is one of the largest grass plants in the world.
In China the timber is used to make furniture, boxes, and ornamental vases.
