Bamboo Plant: It’s Meaning and Significance

The Bamboo plant has been revered for many centuries. With over 1,000 varieties, countries such as Asia, Australia, South America, and North America have become home to the Bamboo plant. Technically, Bamboo is a grass and it is highly desirable due to its fast growth. Many believe that it is because of this quality that the Bamboo plant has come to signify many things to different people. In fact, various countries feature the Bamboo plant in their creation stories and some of the tales are very similar. In the Andaman Islands, a group of islands in the Bay of Bengal, it is believed that the first people emerged from the stem of a Bamboo plant. The Philippines also have a similar creation tale to tell. The Philippine story tells of the first man and woman emerging from a Bamboo stem. In Malaysia, the story is the same. The tale is of a man who fell asleep under the shade of a Bamboo tree. While he slept, he dreamt of a beautiful woman. When he awoke, he opened the Bamboo tree and found the woman inside.

Along with the creation stories, Bamboo has become popular with many cultures as a good luck plant. China often associates Bamboo with luck and wealth. This may be directly related to the plant’s quick growth and longevity. Additionally, the Bamboo plant has become the traditional symbol for friendship in India. Also, Bamboo is often associated with prosperity, peace, good fortune, success, and protection from evil.

Though Bamboo may not be the source of all human life, it has become a well-favored plant by numerous people. It is great for outdoor landscaping or adorning a home while grown in containers. Whether it is due to its fast growth, longevity, or association with mythology and good fortune, Bamboo is not just a beautiful plant, but it has many uses as well. The shoots from the Bamboo plant are edible, and are a very popular staple in Asian cuisine. However, it should be noted that not all Bamboo plants are edible so use caution when growing Bamboo for food purposes. Artists have used bamboo for many years, and Bamboo has been industrialized for items such as fences, furniture, and floors. From chopsticks, to toys, and even knitting needles, Bamboo has found its place as a strong and enduring wood suitable for use by craftsmen.

The Bamboo plant plays a vital role in Feng Shui. You can get lucky with a Bamboo plant grown either indoors or outdoors. You can also grow the Feng Shui specialty, “Lucky Bamboo” simply in your home or office. Though technically, Lucky Bamboo is a lily, it is the Bamboo lovers favorite plant of choice. With its beautiful jade stalks, the Lucky Bamboo plant thrives in ½ an inch of water, low light, and a diluted mix of fertilizer. More on Bamboo plant food. The plant will grow and you can cut the stalks and replant them in other water/fertilizer mixes. Due to its simplicity and ease of caring for bamboo plants, many people recommend the Lucky Bamboo plant to adorn your home or office. Why not add a Lucky Bamboo or other Bamboo plant to your home or office today?