Bamboo 'Black Asper' (Bambusa lako)

Edible, Ornamental, and Strikingly Beautiful Black Bamboo

Black Asper Bamboo also known as Timor Black Bamboo, is a rare, highly ornamental clumping bamboo prized for both its deep purple-black culms and tender, edible shoots. Native to the island of Timor in Indonesia, this tropical showstopper grows to an impressive 50–70 feet tall, forming elegant upright canes that slowly mature to a rich black with age and sun exposure.

While stunning to look at, Black Asper is also highly functional. Its young shoots are edible and delicious—ideal for use in stir-fries, curries, and traditional dishes. Though smaller and firmer than those of Giant Asper (Bambusa asper), these shoots are still valued for their mild flavor and crisp texture.

As a clumping, non-invasive species, Black Asper is a dream to grow in tropical and subtropical food forests. It makes a bold specimen planting, natural privacy screen, or living hedge, offering fast-growing structure, shade, and erosion control. Like all tropical bamboos, it prefers warm climates and thrives in USDA Zones 9–11.

At Sow Exotic, our Black Asper Bamboo plants are shipped in 1-gallon biodegradable coconut coir pots, ready for planting with zero plastic waste.