Family: Poaceae

Origin, Description & Uses
Gigantochloa atter, commonly known as sweet bamboo or pring legi, is native to parts of Southeast Asia, including Java and the Lesser Sunda Islands. This bamboo species is known for its tall, straight, and woody culms, which can grow in dense clumps, giving it a striking appearance in landscapes. Its fast growth and durable stems make it useful for construction, furniture, fencing, and traditional crafts. Sweet bamboo is also valued for its aesthetic appeal in gardens and as a shade plant.

Risks & Threats
Gigantochloa atter is considered a low-risk species in Hawaii. It has not shown tendencies to spread aggressively or disrupt local ecosystems. While it can form dense clumps, it generally remains manageable in cultivated settings and does not pose a significant threat to native plants or habitats. Gardeners and landscapers can enjoy this bamboo for its ornamental and practical uses with minimal ecological concern.

High Risk Traits:

• Thrives in tropical climates
  
• Can grow from sea level to 1400 m elevation
  
• Produces viable seeds that may be dispersed by gravity, wind or people
  
• Will resprout after repeated cutting or harvesting of shoots and culms (may be difficult to remove from unwanted areas)

Low Risk Traits:

• No negative impacts have been documented
  
• Non-toxic
  
• Edible shoots
  
• Landscaping and ornamental value
  
• A sympodial, or clumping bamboo
  
• Flowering occurs in plants that are 50+ years old
  
• Lack of seed production until end of long life cycle