Lucky Bamboo

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Flower Encyclopedia: Lucky Bamboo

Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Liliopsida Order: Asparagales Family: Ruscaceae Genus: Dracaena Species: D. sanderiana

According to Feng Shui masters, having Lucky Bamboo (Sanderiana dracaena) in the home or office will help to ensure good fortune. In Asia, bamboo is a symbol of health and wellbeing, while in India it is a symbol of friendship.

In several Asian cultures, it is believed that humanity emerged from a bamboo stem. In the Philippine creation myth, legend tells that the first man and the first woman were split open from a bamboo stem that emerged on an island created after the battle of the elemental forces. In Malaysian legends a similar story includes a man who dreams of a beautiful woman while sleeping under a bamboo plant; he wakes up and breaks the bamboo stem, discovering the woman inside. In Japan, a bamboo forest sometimes surrounds a Shinto shrine as part of a sacred barrier against evils.

In Chinese culture, the bamboo, along with the plum blossom, orchids, and chrysanthemums are all held in high esteem and are collectively referred as "the four of great nobility", with one representing each of the seasons.

Back in the home or office, bamboo - particularly lucky bamboo - evokes an exotic ambiance wherever used, with its structural lines and vibrant green foliage. In gardening, bamboo is often overlooked in favour of more traditional, time-honored flowers and plants. It is often deemed too contemporary for many herbaceous borders, instead resigned mainly to modern city gardens. In reality however, many species of bamboo will blend in perfectly with some of our most commonly kept species; even native species. And with over 200 bamboo species available to the gardener, most of them easily able to cope with the usually rather chilly British climate, there is little reason to exclude the fantastic textures and symbolism of bamboo from your garden.

The perfect introduction to bamboo, "lucky bamboo" can be easily sustained in the home. Simply kept in a tall vase with a fresh supply of water, its thick stems will sprout fantastic green shoots. These shoots have the potential to grow several feet in optimum conditions - often the only thing stopping them is the ceiling! Lucky bamboo also makes a wonderful addition to a fresh flower bouquet. Adding a single stem of lucky bamboo to the centre of a trendy hand tied bouquet not only adds a little drama and interest, but the bamboo can be kept - flourishing long after the rest of the flowers have perished.

Despite the strong resemblance, lucky bamboo is actually unrelated to the species of bamboo favoured by the Giant Panda of China. Lucky bamboo - also known as "Ribbon Dracaena" or the ribbon plant - is actually native to Cameroon, tropical West Africa. The curly or twisted varieties often seen for sale do not occur naturally in the wild. Instead, they are produced by rotating the plant with respect to gravity and directed light sources.

Did you know?

If the leaves of lucky bamboo begin to turn yellow or brown, they may be experience adverse effect from the chlorine or fluoride in your tap water. This can be alleviated by leaving water to stand for 24 hours before watering your bamboo, or by using bottled water, rain water, or water treated with a proprietary tap water conditioner. Care should be taken with lucky bamboo in the home, as it can be toxic to pets.