Books about Bamboo

Bamboo for the Garden

Bamboos are unfortunately too often kept out of gardens for fear of their invasive qualities or lack of hardiness. In truth, these elegant grasses, encompassing both woody and herbaceous forms, can achieve dramatic yet restrained effects in a range of climates. Tropical and subtropical bamboos present many possibilities for landscapes in warmer climates, while the hardier species can be grown as far north as Minnesota.

Bamboo expert Ted Jordan Meredith provides a thorough and multifaceted treatment of these ancient grasses, including insight into selecting the right plant for the right situation. The bulk of the book is an encyclopedia of bamboo genera, species, and cultivars. More than 300 bamboos from 40 genera are described in detail, including information on size, lighting and temperature requirements, native range, physical characteristics, and landscape and other uses. Excellent color photos and clear line drawings effectively illustrate both the details and broader effects of these exquisite plants.

American Bamboos

This book covers American bamboos, it goes in great detail with many species of South and Central America. There are 203 color photographs and extensive details on structure, evolution, ecology and diversity. An identification key sorts species, giving very complete descriptions habitat, range maps and references. Discusses the conversation value, human uses, cultivation and propagation. A recent publication with complete information on bamboos native to the Americas. A valuable reference book with 400 pages.

The Book of Bamboo

Now available once again with a new preface by the author, The Book of Bamboo introduces us to the oldest, most remarkable resource on the planet. Part catalog, part history, The Book of Bamboo shows us how this versatile wood, which is both sustainable and plentiful, has been used for thousands of years to make items ranging from things needed for survival like clothing and housing to more exotic and luxurious objects like phonograph needles and children's toys, as well as dozens of others. With information both practical and wistful, David Farrelly tells us about the plant's biology and life cycle, gives tips on harvesting and planting, and lore about the ancient wood. Farrelly conveys the rich and timeless message that bamboo -- strong, flexible, and beautiful in both its natural and its finished states is an abundant resource that could beneficially replace many of the less sustainable materials now commonly used in many aspects of our daily lives and transform our culture in the process.

The Gardener's Guide to Growing Temperate Bamboos

A complete and practical guide to growing and collecting these architectural evergreen plants and using them to stunning effect in the garden. Embracing a number of genera, the wide variety of species and cultivars provide the garden with brightly colored glossy stems, lush foliage, rustling movement and very fast growth.

The Gardener’s Guide to Growing Temperate Bamboos offers a valuable guide both to gardeners seeking the best performers for different landscape situations and for specialists interested in the detail behind the plant. If you choose your species carefully, there is no danger from running roots or excess size. All will find fascinating information about the history of bamboos, the botanical sophistication of the plant’s design, and tips for finding and growing the more unusual species. The book is illustrated with superbly detailed photographs and illustrations, showing minute variations in structure, which are excellent aids to identification.

Bamboo World: The Growing and Use of Clumping Bamboos

'Each year during the shoot season, we stand spellbound in our beautiful botanical garden, gazing in awe at the newly emerging shoots of tropical giant bamboos. They thrust the earth aside in great clods as they heave their mighty bulk from beneath the earth.

The object of this book is to communicate a wealth of knowledge, both scientific and practical, to those with little knowledge of the fabulous clumping bamboos of the world. Few people seem to be aware of the existence of these clumping bamboos. Their experience and attitudes have been soured by the invasive running bamboos.

The Western world is not yet taking clumping bamboos seriously. Most Asian countries treat this fastest growing, annually renewable resource with great reverence. Bamboo feeds them, houses them, graces and shades their environment. It is used to make their musical instruments, cooking and eating utensils, furniture, hunting weapons, and ceremonial artifacts. It even provides the reinforcement for their concrete. Bamboo provides their carrying and storage baskets, lamps and lampshades, ropes and strings, roof tiles and hats, and has hundreds of other practical and spiritual uses.

Bamboo World distils simple practical advice on using bamboo for a wealth of applications. It draws on both traditional village technology and modern scientific research, accumulated over the author's many years of travel, practice, research, growing, and association with village communities and scientists from many countries.