Romania's Mureș Valley Hides Bamboo Forests, an Invasive Wonder

The Mureș Valley in Romania, a region spanning approximately 50 kilometers between the towns of Gurasada and Simeria in Hunedoara County, is home to some of the nation's oldest bamboo plantations. These exotic groves, established in the 19th century, have become a unique attraction, though they present challenges due to bamboo's invasive nature.

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Where it grows, grass no longer grows.

The Arboretum in Simeria, one of Romania's oldest dendrological parks founded in the 18th century, is managed by the National Institute for Research and Development in Forestry "Marin Drăcea." This expansive 70-hectare site has historically housed numerous exotic plant and tree species. Despite facing threats from floods, droughts, heavy snow, frost, storms, fires, and human intervention, the bamboo, originating from Asia and cultivated for over a century, has proven remarkably resilient.

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It reaches its maximum height in a single season. In spring, it grows like a candle. It can grow up to 70 centimeters per day.

Daniel Pitar, a forestry engineer at the Simeria Research and Experimentation Section, explained that the plant, native to the Far East, has adapted exceptionally well to the conditions along the Mureș Valley. However, he cautioned that it remains an invasive species, capable of impacting native vegetation if left unchecked.

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It can reach seven, ten, or even 12 meters. It depends on the species, because there are very many species of bamboo.

Pitar elaborated on bamboo's remarkable growth rate, noting that it can reach its maximum height within a single growing season. Emerging in spring like a "candle," some stalks can grow as much as 70 centimeters per day. As it grows, the stalk gradually lignifies and strengthens from the base upwards. Depending on the species, bamboo can reach impressive heights of seven, ten, or even twelve meters, though some varieties remain under a meter tall. Pitar clarified that bamboo is fundamentally a type of grass, often mistakenly identified as reed.

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Bamboo is, in principle, a grass. It is often confused with reed, but it has no connection to it.