10 Types of Bamboo
Kurochiku Black Bamboo Black Bamboo was originally native to southern China but also grows in Japan. Its straight culms are at first green, but weather turns them to a solid black or sometimes a deep purple black. The thin, strong walls of the culms make them popular for cabinetwork, furniture and crafts.
Madake Japanese Timber Bamboo Over 60% of Japan's bamboo is madake, or “Giant Japanese Timber Bamboo.” Madake has bright green smooth canes, excellent wood and can grow over 65 ft. tall and 6 in. in diameter. Long with thick walls, it is the favorite bamboo for construction and other industries.
Torachiku (Torafudake, Toratake)
Tiger Bamboo
The culm of toradake appears coated with white powder. Heating and wiping the harvested bamboo yield a beautiful spotted, tiger-like coat. This bamboo is native only to Kochi prefecture in a few select groves in the Awa region of Susaki, a city in Kochi.
Gomadake Speckled Bamboo As gomadake dies, naturally occurring bacteria create a speckled appearance on the culms resembling sesame seeds (Japanese: goma). This appearance can be facilitated artificially in living gomadake through a process of shearing off all branches and leaves.
Kikkōchiku Tortoiseshell Bamboo A variant of mōsō bamboo, named for its tortoiseshell (mōsō)-like appearance, this type grows well between nodes on the sides with branches and poorly on the sides without. The difference in growth causes alternate internodal bulging and deformity in the culm up to 6ft. to 10ft.
Benihanchiku Mottled Red Bamboo Native to China, this variety of bamboo features red, rippled mottling. In Chinese legend, the consorts Ehuang and Nuying cried over the death of their Emperor Shun. Their tears turned to blood and fell into water near where mottled red bamboo emerged.
Tennenchiku Natural Bamboo The name “natural bamboo” refers to the bamboo root that extends vigorously underground, a symbol of life. This bamboo is treasured for use in bunjin (literati) baskets.
Yadake Arrow Bamboo
This plant’s characteristics are a small-diameter culm and a long length between its lowprofile nodes. The hard, straight growth of this bamboo was suited for arrow shafts, giving the bamboo its name.
Susudake Smoked Bamboo Susudake is bamboo that has been used as ceiling material in thatched Japanese houses and exposed to hearth smoke for over 100 years. This bamboo material is top grade, with rarity and value increasing year after year as quantities are depleted.
Hobichiku Smoked Dwarf Bamboo Hobichiku is a rare and valuable type of smoked nemagaritake (“bent root bamboo”). The original material quality and its weakened fibers from long years of smoke require use of special techniques to split and weave.
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