The lifespan of the bamboo plant
Short answer: A single bamboo culm typically lives for up to ten years, while the root system underground can live much longer. That is why bamboo can be harvested again and again from the same plant without having to be replanted.
The culm
A new culm pushes up from the ground and reaches its full height during its first season. After that it grows neither taller nor thicker. Instead, the wall of the culm becomes harder and more woody year by year. After a number of years the culm loses strength, turns yellow and eventually dies.
The root system
The real life of the plant lies underground. The root system consists of horizontal stems that spread and send up new shoots every spring. When an old culm dies, the root system carries on and new culms take over. A bamboo plant is more a colony of culms than a single individual. Read more about the root system of bamboo.
Why the culm dies
A culm cannot renew its own tissue the way a tree does with new growth rings. Once the cells in the wall have become hard and old, nothing replaces them. The culm slowly becomes less active, and the plant puts its energy into the new shoots instead. It is a natural part of the life cycle.
Harvest
In cultivation, culms are harvested at the age when they are firm enough for their intended use. Only part of the culms is cut at a time, so the root system still has green culms to draw energy from. The plant is never cut down completely. The next season, new shoots come up from the same roots.
Age at harvest
For building, culms are harvested older than for textiles, because they need to be firm and load bearing. For fibre, age matters less, since the cellulose is dissolved in the process anyway. That allows plants for textiles to be harvested at regular intervals. The finished fibre is used for bamboo bedding, among other things.
Flowering
Many bamboo species flower very rarely, in some cases decades apart. After flowering, many of the plants die, because they spend all their energy on producing seed. It is one of the more unusual traits of bamboo and an exception to its long life. You can read more in when bamboo flowers.
A grass, not a tree
The fact that a culm does not get thicker over the years is linked to bamboo being a grass in botanical terms. A tree grows in thickness throughout its life, while a grass has its width from the start. That also explains why the culm has a limited life. See is bamboo a grass or a tree.
From plant to fabric
Once culms are harvested for textiles, they are chopped, and the cellulose is extracted and cleaned. It is then dissolved and spun into long, soft fibres that can be knitted or woven. It is a longer process with several steps that needs control along the way. Follow the whole route in from bamboo plant to soft fabric.
What it means for you
The life of the plant says nothing directly about how long your clothes will last. The yarn, the knit and the way the garment is washed decide that. The life span does explain why bamboo can be grown year after year in the same place. That is the background of the raw material in your clothes.
See the range
If you want to see what the fibre becomes, take a look at the textiles in the shop. The fabric is soft and light and is mostly used for clothes worn close to the skin every day. Choose by fit and use, and wash gently. You will find the range in bamboo clothing for women.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a bamboo culm live?
Typically up to ten years. The culm reaches its height in the first season, then gradually hardens and finally dies, while new culms from the root system take its place.
How long does the root system live?
Much longer than the individual culms. The root system sends up new shoots year after year, which is why the plant can be harvested again without being replanted.
When is bamboo harvested?
When the culms are firm enough for their purpose. For building they are harvested older than for textiles, where age matters less because the cellulose is dissolved.
See our range of men's bamboo socks.
