Bambusa nutans

Bambusa nutans is an evergreen bamboo in the grass family, Poaceae. Its common names include nodding bamboo and Mai bong. Its native range runs from the Himalaya to Indo-China. It grows in the wet tropics of Asia. Wild plants grow on moist hill slopes and flat uplands. These sites have soils ranging from sandy loam to clayey loam. People also grow this species for materials and as an ornamental. Growers cultivate it in India, Bangladesh and Thailand.

This bamboo forms clumps of upright, woody stems called culms. The culms have fairly thick walls. Garden references list a height of about 39 feet [12 metres]. They give a spread of about 16 feet [5 metres]. Broader accounts report heights of 20–49 feet [6–15 metres]. Some reports reach 75 feet [23 metres], beyond the listed garden size. Culms measure about 0.13–0.33 feet [0.04–0.10 metres] across. Their internodes span roughly 1.1–1.5 feet [0.35–0.45 metres]. The plant keeps its leaves year-round and grows fast. Wind carries pollen between its flowers.

Grow it in full sun or light, dappled shade. It prefers fertile, heavy soil, though it accepts sand and loam. Keep the soil moist and allow water to drain well. Its preferred soil pH runs from 6 to 7. It also tolerates a wider range, from 5.5 to 7.5. Warm conditions suit it best, with daytime temperatures of 22–28°C. It prefers areas with high annual rainfall. Plants For A Future lists USDA hardiness zones 9–10. The plant tolerates strong winds but not exposure to sea winds.

Its clump form gives it value as an ornamental bamboo. Growers also use it to shelter tea crops. Its strong, straight culms serve as poles and fencing material. The stems supply fibre for paper production in India. The species ranks among six main bamboos used by that industry. Other recorded uses include biomass and wood. It also has a place in multistrata planting and strip intercropping systems.

People cook the shoots for food. Plants For A Future gives its food value two out of five. Both plant references report no known hazards. This does not establish that every plant part is safe. Neither reference lists a known medicinal use. Plants For A Future records no weed potential for this species.