So what the heck is a Batu?

If Bambu Batu is the House of Bamboo, and Bambu is "bamboo", then Batu must mean "house", right?

Wrong.

It's a little more complicated than that. But only a little. Batu is actually Malay (Indonesian) for "rock", as in rock bamboo, more commonly translated as iron bamboo.

Yes, that's Bambu Batu: the Iron Bamboo — also known as Dendrocalamus Strictus.

Growing to heights of 60 feet or more, with canes up to 5" in diameter, Bambu Batu is a giant clumper. This unusual black timber bamboo is native to southeast Asia and the Indonesian archipelago. It is considered the supreme variety for furniture and construction.

Be Strong! Choose Bamboo!