Bamboo is a plant, commonly grown in Asia. It is a type of grass with a hard, woody, hollow stem.

There are several varieties of bamboo; some are as short as one foot (30 cm) in height while others can grow to ten times that size. The root structures of bamboo plants vary and they are often scientifically classified by root type. Many different climates support bamboo, although it is commonly associated with the tropics.

Bamboo is commonly used as a food source. Bamboo has a crisp texture and light, sweet flavor. It generally assumes the flavor of ingredients it is combined with, so bamboo shoots are often used as fillers in Asian cuisine. While some bamboo can be eaten raw, some varieties must be cooked to remove some toxic elements. The giant panda enjoys it too; pandas subsist almost completely on bamboo plants.

Bamboo is also used as a construction material. It is an extremely hard substance, although it should be chemically treated to prevent insect infestation and rot. Since it is a quickly growing grass and can grow in dense conditions, it is considered one of the best renewable resources on the planet. Bamboo was used to create the earliest suspension bridges in China and today it is used in a variety of building projects. It has also been used to craft boats, zeppelins and airplanes.

Bamboo is also used to make a variety of household goods. You can find furniture, dinnerware, sporting goods, jewelry and handbags comprised of it. It has also been used for flooring, cutting boards, wind chimes and nearly any other good that is commonly made of wood.

Bamboo is a beautiful landscape plant and is often used to create a privacy screen. However, it must be planted with a bamboo specific root barrier to keep it from spreading into other areas. It reproduces as quickly as it grows so it can quickly take over a garden.

It is important to note that the "lucky bamboo" many people have growing in their homes is not actually a member of the bamboo family; instead it is a Dracaena, an easy to grow house plant.