Bamboo is hard renewable natural material. It looks like wood, but it is a kind of grass. It qualities make it suitable for use in floors, and it is easier than ever to find, buy, and install. This material is different enough from traditional hardwood flooring, however, you should know more about it before deciding to use one.

Strictly speaking, bamboo is a grass  — not a tree. More than 1000 species of bamboo are grown around the world. Some thrive in mountains with cold winters, while others only appear in tropical climates. For the most part, bamboo does not grow in Europe or Canada, and is seldom cultivated in other northern countries.

Where it does live naturally, bamboo grows very quickly. Some of the largest species grow fastest of all, with new shoots gaining 3 feet per day. Bamboo is one of the only plants whose rapid growth can be heard and seen as it happens.

The genus Phyllostachys includes several large species of bamboo that are large enough to use in building products. These are known as timber bamboo. In addition to growing vertically, these types of bamboo spread quickly through rhizomes under the surface of the soil. In fact, they are even considered invasive species in places like California, where they are not native. Of the roughly 75 species and 200 varieties of Phyllostachys, the largest can grow to be about 100 feet tall.

To minimize impact on wild habitats and maintain consistency in the harvested product, some companies that make bamboo products have established their own plantations. Whether cultivated or collected, mature bamboo can be harvested every five years or so.