Tallest grass in the world is dragon bamboo, which you will be surprised to know grows as tall as 100 feet. As an adventurous grass parent, you might be bored growing the same old and boring fescues, bluegrasses, and ryegrasses year after year.
In this article, we will briefly discuss the tallest grass ever. We are also going to find out what some other close contenders are.
What Is the Tallest Grass In The World?
The tallest grass in the world is the dragon bamboo plant, it can grow as tall as 100 feet. It is significant because it grows rapidly, adding one to two feet to its height daily if it grows in the environment it requires.
Dragon bamboo, also known as the Dendrocalamus giganteus plant, is the tallest grass in the world. It is mostly native to the tropical and subtropical regions of Southeast Asia.
The average height of this high grass is around 75 to 90 feet. If the growth conditions are right, individual bamboo grass might grow as tall as 100 feet if, of course, it is grown in the right conditions.
On the other hand, the tallest bamboo grass height recorded so far has been a whopping 137 feet in Arunachal Pradesh, India. This bamboo grass needs fertile soil rich in nutrients with access to a steady supply of underground water resources.
This grass needs a lot of water, nutrients, and moisture daily. The latter is because it grows at least a foot on a daily basis if all its basic needs are being fulfilled.
The reason why is that it thrives in subtropical climates is precisely this; these regions receive a ton of rainfall and have quite high air humidity levels, which is the perfect environment.
– Planting Requirements
You should be able to grow the world’s tallest grass at home if you are passionate about it. You may order this grass or check and see if your local nursery owner sells a good quality one.
However, we would urge against growing this grass from seedlings because that would take a long time and not even be successful. Instead, go for a potted form and transplant it into your lawn.
The tallest grass grows via the spreading of underground rhizomes and soon forms a large underground network of clumps, roots, and rhizomes. Note that you need to plant this grass in a very spacious area because once it grows, you will need tractors to harvest it.
Because it grows tall, you naturally want to place it away from power lines, roads, and other people’s lawns.
As for the sand requirements, you must first mix fresh sand in the soil and till it thoroughly to make it well-draining enough for bamboo. Prepare to water your grass a ton whenever the top one inch of the soil becomes dry. It also needs plenty of sunlight all year, so if you live someplace cloudy and rainy, this bamboo might not grow as tall as its full potential.
– Benefits and Uses
Dragon bamboo is not just the tallest grass in the world; that has a very high ornamental value. It has several other commercial uses that you can utilize. The tall, hard stems of bamboo grass have a high demand in the construction industry, because of their quality. You can cut grass periodically and sell its stems to your local construction workers.
In addition, it is even used to make bamboo furniture, which is also all the rage these days, and we must agree that it looks super cute. We are sure any carpenter would be willing to pay you a respectable amount for a steady stream of bamboo supply.
There are tons of other industries where your bamboo grass would come in handy such as paper production, fabric, and pulp, hence, this is why it is old worldwide, because the demand is high, and this is one of the benefits
The fact that this grass grows so quickly and so tall means you will only run out of bamboo for a while. You can either allow your homegrown grass to grow as tall as possible or keep it at the right height while cutting it off. This might be hard work, but it is a steady source of additional income.
What Are Other Tall Grasses?
Other tall grasses are the giant reed, the elephant grass, the pampas grass, and the big blue stem grass, they all grow tall and thrive in the right environment. These grasses are the succeeding ones after the dragon bamboo grass.
– Giant Reed
The second-largest grass in the world is the giant reed grass, known scientifically as Arundo donax. It also goes by the alternative name giant cane, acts as a perennial, and keeps coming back year after year.
On average, this grass will grow 12 to 16 feet tall in dense clumps. However, some champion varieties have been known to grow as tall as 20 to 25 feet, which means you might not even think this specie looks like typical grass because their reed-like stems are only about two inches thick.
This grass has been around since ancient times, and the Reed grass stems have been used to make flutes, organ pipes, and several other pipe instruments. Even its long strappy leaves have numerous uses. It is considered invasive because it is hard to get rid of once established.
Giant reed grass has one of the most extensive root systems among most grass types. This grass will help with preventing and controlling erosion in the soil. This grass requires at least eight to nine hours of sunlight daily and frequent watering. An extensive root system means this grass can fulfill most of its water needs.
– Elephant Grass
You might also know the Elephant grass as the Napier grass or Pennisetum purpureum. It can grow about nine to 20 feet tall and is native to the wetlands of Africa. Unlike most other tall-growing grasses, this is a tough one that can tolerate various environmental and weather conditions.
It is a warm-season grass, which means it thrives when it is located in temperatures above 40 degrees Fahrenheit to achieve its ideal heights. Napier is sensitive to cold and frost and will germinate during winter. However, being a perennial, it comes back early the next spring via elephant grass seeds.
Elephant grass is among the fastest-growing grasses out there, and under the right conditions, it grows up to two feet per day. You may have to harvest them up to eight times per year. This grass contains a very high protein content and is fodder for cattle and other animals.
On the other hand, the roots of this grass also grow extensively, deeply, and long. This has the benefit of preventing soil erosion and flooding. It is also a flowering plant that produces gorgeous foliage in the spring, which is why many people grow this.
– Pampas Grass
Pampas are also a tall grass type that grows up to 10 feet tall and almost six feet wide. This grass is native to the Pampas region of South America. It is considered as an invasive species in North America.
Pampas is a flowering type of grass that is not long-lasting, even though it grows tall, but it doesn’t endure.
This plant grows in thick clumps that reach a stage of maturity from seedlings within two years. While it lasts, you can rest assured that it will compete with and not let any other grass or weed survive besides it in the soil.
To grow Pampas grass to its full height, provide it with full sunlight. This plant will survive various soil types, however, it will not take thrive in partial sunlight. Other than that, Pampas is a tough grass that will tolerate drought, salt water, and strong winds.
– Big Bluestem Grass
The first tallest grass is a type of grass directly from the North American prairies, and this is the big blue stem grass. With its average height of around six to 10 feet and vibrant blue-green stems and leaves, this is the most stunning among all tall grasses.
It is popular these days as an ornamental grass among homeowners because it is a warm-season grass.
However, in the fall, their blue-green shifts to a striking bronze visible from afar because of their height.
If you live someplace with good sunlight and well-draining soil, only then will you see big bluestem reach its full height.
FAQ
– Where Are The Tallest Grasses Usually Found On The Planet?
The tallest grasses in the world are usually present in Southeast Asian countries such as India and China. The tallest bamboo grass is present in AP, India.
Northeast Indian regions are famous for growing Elephant grass, the third tallest grass in the world. However, bamboo grows on every continent except Europe and Antarctica.
– Which Grass Grows The Tallest As Well As The Fastest?
Bamboo is not only the tallest, but also the fastest-growing grass in the world. They have an average height of 100 feet or even more and grow as much as one to two feet per day. Dragon bamboo is the tallest among all the other members of the bamboo family.
– What Are The Fastest But Not The Tallest Growing Grass?
Average household grasses in the United States that grow fast but not tall are Perennial ryegrass, annual ryegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, and certain types of fescues.
These grass types can grow a few inches tall per week under the right conditions. However, they rarely grow taller beyond a few feet compared to genuinely taller grass types such as bamboo or elephant grass.
Conclusion
The tallest grass is the bamboo, and it grows as the conditions are ideal, it has also so many uses.
As our final thoughts, here is a brief conclusion to this article regarding the tallest grass:
- Dragon bamboo is the tallest grass, with an average height of 75 to 85 feet.
- If grown under ideal conditions of direct sunlight and proper watering, it might even grow 100 feet tall.
- You can use bamboo grass for many reasons, such as making furniture, paper, wooden screens, and cloth.
- Giant reed is the tallest grass in North America that can grow upto 20 feet tall with very thin stems.
Only some have the guts to grow the tall and fast-growing dragon bamboo. We would love to see one of you try to grow one of the five tallest types of grass we discussed in this article today.
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