Bamboo trees don’t grow natively on any player island, but they can be found on some deserted islands. That’s where your Nook Points come in, and a fair amount of luck. Let’s talk about how to get bamboo in Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

How to Get Bamboo in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Bamboo can only be found on some of the islands you can visit using Nook Miles Tickets, which cost 2,000 Nook Points.

There is no confirmed way to influence the flora and fauna on any island you visit via Nook Miles Tickets. If you’re really on the warpath to get some bamboo planted around your island or just collect it for recipes, you may be in for some heavy Nook Point costs. 

Some islands have bamboo trees growing instead of regular ones. Bamboo trees can be chopped for materials or even dug up and put into your inventory just like regular trees, but there’s one unique facet to bringing some bamboo home to plant.

On bamboo islands, you’ll likely see several spots on the ground to dig up. These will more often than not have bamboo shoots inside them, which are a far more inventory-friendly option of hauling bamboo home as they do stack.

I’ve found that I generally only get 5 bamboo shoots per bamboo tree island.

Take them home and plant them like any other tree, and you’ll soon be rolling in some aesthetic bamboo to harvest for bamboo pieces and young spring bamboo (which won’t be available after May in the northern hemisphere).

Bamboo is used in a variety of recipes down the line. Nook should give you your very first one at some point after you bring bamboo home, so don’t delay!


Check out some of our other Animal Crossing: New Horizons guides if you’re looking to make the most out of your new home. Happy island living!

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