When bamboo flowers

Short answer: Bamboo rarely flowers, and in many species there are many years between each flowering. After flowering the individual plant often dies, and new plants then grow from the seeds it has set.

Rare flowering

For most grasses, flowering is a regular part of every year. In several bamboo species, however, decades pass between flowerings, and many gardeners never see their bamboo flower. That makes bamboo unusual among the grasses. The flowers themselves are small and modest and look much like the ears familiar from cereals and other grasses.

Whole stands at once

In some species, plants of the same origin flower at roughly the same time, wherever in the world they grow. Plants divided from the same parent and sent to different countries can therefore flower in the same years. This suggests that the timing lies largely within the plant itself and does not only depend on weather and location.

The plant often dies

After flowering, the plant puts its energy into setting seed and often dies afterwards. The canes wither and the root system gives up. New plants grow from the seeds, but it takes several years before a dense stand has grown back. In a few species part of the plant survives, but that is not the rule.

Why it happens

Researchers have several explanations for why bamboo flowers so rarely and so simultaneously, but the mechanism is not fully understood. One common explanation is that a mass of seeds at once makes it harder for animals to eat them all, so more of them sprout. It is only one explanation among several, and the subject is still being studied.

What it means for growing

Because flowering is so rare, you cannot rely on seed to get new plants. In practice bamboo is propagated by dividing the root system, where a piece with rhizome and shoot is planted on its own. This also means that many plants on sale come from the same parent plant and can therefore flower at the same time.

A grass that flowers

The fact that bamboo flowers and sets seed like cereals is one of the signs that it belongs with the grasses. The flowers sit in ears and the seeds look like grains. That is one reason botanists place bamboo in the grass family, even though the canes can look like wood. Read more in is bamboo a grass or a tree.

In Danish gardens

If a garden bamboo flowers, the plant may die afterwards. It is rare, but it happens, and it is not a sign that you have cared for it wrongly. You can try cutting off the flowering canes and watering and feeding the plant, but it is often best to wait and see whether new shoots appear, or to plant a new one.

From plant to fabric

Textile production uses the mature canes, and flowering plays practically no role for the fabric. The canes are cut, processed and spun into yarn that becomes clothing and home textiles. See the whole journey in from bamboo plant to soft fabric, and see the textiles in bamboo bedding and bamboo towels.

Frequently asked questions

How often does bamboo flower?

In many species only at long intervals, often several decades apart. Many gardeners therefore never see their bamboo flower during the years they have the plant.

Does the plant die after flowering?

Often, yes. The plant puts its energy into seed and withers afterwards. New plants can grow from the seeds, but it takes several years before they are fully grown again.

Is it my fault if my garden bamboo flowers?

No. Flowering lies largely within the plant itself and often happens at the same time for plants of the same origin. It is not a sign that you have cared for it wrongly.

You can find the full range at Bamboo-Clothing.com.