These days we hear a lot about the value of "sustainability" and "renewable resources."   Bamboo is greenest plant on earth for several reasons.  In addition to being the fastest growing plant on earth (see "Bamboo Growth Habits and Rates" for more on bamboo horticulture) and the first sign of plant life after the bombing of Hiroshima in 1945, bamboo releases up to 4 times as much Oxygen and absorbs twice as much Carbon Dioxide as other plants.

Once a new shoot emerges from the ground, the new culm will reach its full height for that growing season in just 8 to 10 weeks.  Its record-breaking growth makes bamboo an excellent choice to produce shade for residential and commercial properties.  Moreover, each culm (the botanical name for the bamboo "cane" or "stalk") reaches maturity in just 7 years.  This rapid life cycle makes it an excellent choice for manufacturing purposes, whether flooring, cutting boards, or textile production, because we're not cutting down 70-year old oak trees.   That bamboo is thus a "renewable" resource doesn't mean our harvesting it for human manufacture and products should exceed its supply because its ability to release more Oxygen and absorb more Carbon Dioxide is highly valuable for cleaning our air.   

Although new bamboo will grow and can be harvested for use in just 7 quick years, we want to ensure that our use does not outstrip its supply. You can make a different by planting bamboo in your landscape and advocating that others do the same.  It's a better choice than wood for human consumption but it's also good to keep it in the earth for the earth and its people!