The Best Bamboo Species in the World

High Priority Bamboos for Large Scale Cultivation

The following 20 bamboo species are accorded as the best bamboo species in the world and have a high priority for large scale cultivation, depending on objective and end use of the crop. The criteria for including these bamboos in the list are:

Utilization:
- Relative importance to countries in terms of current use.
- Potential importance for expanded use.
Cultivation:
- Knowledge on degree of domestication and commercialization.
- Potential for generation of knowledge.
Products and processing:
- Products currently valued.
- Products likely to increase in value.
- Enhanced processing shows clear potential.
Germplasm and genetic resources:
- Material currently available or expected to be readily available.
- Degree of genetic erosion of the resource base.
- Needs for genetic resources conservation programs.
Agro-ecology:
- Suitability for agro-ecological zones.
- Suitability for use in special circumstances e.g. degraded lands, and mountainous areas.

Top 20 Best Bamboo Species in the World

best bamboo in the world

Criteria not included in this study are physical and mechanical properties, among many other variables. When taking these criteria into account Guadua angustifolia and Phyllostachys edulis (Moso bamboo) are undoubtedly the best bamboo species for construction and industrial use, especially in regards to strength and size.

The Bamboo species are shown in alphabetical order not by ranking!

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Species Name	C	RI	E	CL	SL
Bambusa balcooa	++	++	++	h, d	m, r
Bambusa bambos	++	++	++	h, d, s	r, m, p
Bambusa blumeana	++	++	++	h, d, s	r, m, p
Bambusa polymorpha	+	+	-	h, d	r, m
Bambusa textilis	+	++	+	st	r, m
Bambusa tulda	+	++	+	h, d	r, m
Bambusa vulgaris	-	-	++	h, d, s	r, m, p
Cephalostachyum pergracile	+	++	+	h, d	m
Dendrocalamus asper	++	+	++	h, d	r
Dendrocalamus giganteus	+	+	+	h	r
Dendrocalamus latiflorus	++	+	+	h	r
Dendrocalamus strictus	++	+	++	d, s	m, p
Gigantochloa apus	+	++	++	h	r
Gigantochloa levis	+	++	++	h	r
Gigantochloa pseudoarundinacea	++	+	+	h, d	r
Guadua angustifolia	++	++	++	h	r, m
Melocanna baccifera	+	++	+	h	r
Ochlandra sps.	+	+	+	h	r
Phyllostachys edulis	++	++	++	t	r, m
Thyrsostachys siamensis	++	++	++	d	m

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Legend:

C = Commercialization Potential: High (++), medium (+), and little (-).
RI = Rural Industries: High (++), medium (+), and little (-).
E = Environmental Rehabilitation: High (++), medium (+), and little (-).
CL = Climate: humid tropics (h), dry tropics (d), subtropics (st), semi-arid (s), temperate (t).
SL = Soils: rich (r), medium (m), poor (p).

Not included in the list of the 20 best bamboo species in the world but definitely worth noting are: