The 7 Bamboo Species We Use the Most

By Cécile Durand | June 7, 2019 | Resources - Construction - Forestry -

It may be hard to believe, but there are 1,400 documented species of bamboo on the planet! They are spread around the world, though about 900 (64%) of them naturally grow in Southeast Asia, including 145 specifically endemic to Indonesia.

Dendrocalamus Asper | Bambu Petung

This is the biggest bamboo we use. Strong and dependable, it is used in most of our bamboo buildings. You can see structural and traditional use of Petung at our Bamboo Office.

Average heights: 15 -30 meters

Average diameters: 8 to 20 cm

Principle use: construction and food (the young shoots are considered delicious!)

Distinguishing features: the aerial roots- little hairs, just above the nodes.

The use of Bambu Petung at our Bamboo U Office

The combination of Bambu Petung and Bambu Tali at our Bamboo U Office

The use of Bambu Petung at Sharma Springs House at Green Village in Bali, Indonesia

Gigantochloa Apus | Bambu Tali

Bambu Tali has a series of qualities which make it an interesting building material. One of them is its flexibility, it can be easily manipulated and is used for making bamboo ropes, a valuable element of the construction process. In fact, Tali in Bahasa Indonesia means ‘rope’. Average heights: 8-22 meters Average diameters: 4-13 cm Principle use: handicraft, furniture and construction. Distinguishing features: long fibers and very little tapering (in comparison to Petung).

The use of Bambu Tali in our tensile tent on the new Bamboo U Campus, as a structural element and as rope.

Thyrsostachys Siamensis | Bambu Jakarta

Bambu Jakarta has a particularly yellow hue. This is an appealing characteristic which we use in our designs, particularly in our furnishings or smaller structures. You can see Bambu Jakarta being featured in one of our past yurts.

Average heights: 7 to 13 meters

Average diameters: 2 to 6 cm.

Principle use: food, paper and construction.

Distinguishing features: bambu jakarta has especially long internodes, ranging from 15 to 30 cm in length. The culm walls are also especially thick, giving this species its structural integrity.

“Fishing Rod Bamboo” of the Pseudosasa Genus | Bambu Pancing

Pancing in Bahasa Indonesia means ‘to fish’, consciously highlighting the elemental characteristic of this bamboo species. In construction and design, it is particularly used for furniture or decorative purposes, such as covering cables or tubes living spaces.

Average heights: up to 6 meters

Average diameters: 10-18 cm

Principle use: construction and decoration.
Distinguishing features: bambu pancing is recognizable because it tapers starkly towards the end, exactly like a fishing rod would.

The use of Bambu Pancing in furniture at Sharma Springs House at Green Village in Bali, Indonesia

Bamboo’s diversity is complex but understanding this is a vital element of how it can become the variety of objects which make up our day-to-day life. We express this range in the designs we create and innovate around; it constitutes a core element of our workshops and our bamboo universe. With each course, we pass on knowledge that is founded in fostering each bamboo’s various characteristics and promoting their individual strengths. We find that awareness of differences marks the first step to a sustainable future. Join us at Bamboo U to learn more about how to grow, design and build with bamboo.

About the author

Cécile Durand | Management Consulting Professional

After finishing her Masters of Architecture at the University of Hong Kong where she wrote her thesis about bamboo construction for the rural communities of Bali, she now forms part of the Bamboo U Team as a Management Consulting Professional.