How Much Can Bamboo Grow in a Day?

Size Depends on Species

• Bamboo grows faster than any other woody plant, but the rate of growth and final size of the plant depends on species and area of residence. Some bamboo plants mature in four or five years, while others take a decade to reach full height, growing vigorously every day. Heights range from a few inches to over 100 feet.

The Biggest Bamboo

• Japan recorded a bamboo plant that grew approximately 46 inches in 24 hours. Brian Merchant from Planet Green reports that some bamboo species can regularly grow 2 inches an hour and up to 24 inches a day. For the gardener, most bamboos classified as running bamboos (versus clumping bamboos) are the aggressively growing varieties to avoid.

Using Bamboo's Growth Potential

• Because bamboo can grow so rapidly and be used for so many purposes--including flooring, paper, tools, food and even parts of laptops--it has potential to be one of the most useful renewable resources. However, issues surrounding pesticides, clear cutting and fair trade are yet to be fully addressed.