High Point, North Carolina, is thousands of miles away from the tropical regions where bamboo naturally thrives, yet it’s hard to miss the plant’s peculiar abundance in the city. Residents like Ahmed Salim have noticed its presence in backyards and local neighborhoods since he moved there in 2006.
“There’s a large thicket within walking distance of where I live. And then I’ve also noticed that in people’s backyards, especially in the older neighborhoods, they have bamboo,” Salim remarked. His curiosity about this phenomenon led to an exploration by WFDD’s Carolina Curious, where Amy Diaz delved into the history and impact of bamboo in the area.
Landscaping Trends
The introduction of bamboo to the United States has been gradual, with its use primarily for decorative and commercial purposes. Margaret Fields of the North Carolina chapter of the Nature Conservancy notes that the plant has become a common sight across much of the country.
“In the 20th century, there got to be a lot more plants being imported for use in people’s landscaping. I had a bamboo … in my yard that was planted there in the ’50s,” Fields explained. She likens the bamboo trend to the popularity of Bradford Pears in the 1980s, highlighting cyclical gardening fads…