What comes to mind when you think of bamboo? A small indoor plant, perfect for a housewarming gift? Today, bamboo has many purposes—from medicinal to food. It’s also used for many products, from buildings to clothes, accessories and even bedding. Bamboo also makes a beautiful, and sustainable, hard flooring option.

Learn more about bamboo, including what makes it such a unique and sustainable product for hard flooring.

What is Bamboo?

Bamboo is not a tree. It actually belongs to the grass family. It grows rapidly, reaching 20 meters high in just four years. At this time, it’s ready to harvest, a process which does not kill the plant. Since the roots remain intact, the bamboo plant quickly regenerates. (Think of how quickly grass grows back after you mow your back yard.) The strong root system makes bamboo an ideal plant for areas threatened with potentially devastating ecological effects of soil erosion. It also makes bamboo a sustainable choice for flooring and so many other uses.

Where is Bamboo grown?

Natural bamboo can be found in many parts of the world, especially in warm climates. Bamboo thrives in natural forestlands in parts of India, China, Japan and more. Due to its popularity, there are many managed forests where bamboo is sustainably grown and harvested.

What are the benefits of bamboo?

The benefits of bamboo are many and diverse. One of the most important benefits to many people is the eco advantages. We’ve discussed it being an ideal choice for sustainability reasons. Yet, bamboo is good for the environment in more ways than one. Natural bamboo is a superior choice for indoor air quality, over other building materials that are associated with off-gassing, allergens and potentially harmful chemicals.

Why choose bamboo flooring?

One reason for choosing bamboo flooring is due to its durability—a flooring quality desired for any space. While strength may not be something you think about when grass comes to mind, bamboo is a tough grass. In fact, natural bamboo is harder than some of the most common hardwood species. It is 27% harder than oak and 13% harder than maple. It is also more moisture resistant that wood, and it’s durable—standing up to the test of time.

While these benefits alone are enough for many people to choose bamboo flooring, others may be drawn to bamboo for its natural beauty. There are numerous species of bamboo available, including Moso Natural Bamboo. This tall and straight species is often used for flooring fabrication. Bamboo’s unique appearance and variety of tone and appearance add an exotic beauty that suits many design styles. Bamboo flooring can complement traditional design aesthetics, transitional designs and more modern tastes.