Nandina Nandina domestica
Introduction
With bamboo-like stalks and delicate, ferny foliage,
Nandina is much-prized for its oriental
effect and distinctive appearance. Adding
to its appeal are large, erect panicles
of creamy white flowers in spring followed
by decorative bright red berries in fall
and winter. Berries are eaten by a variety
of birds. Nandina spreads slowly by underground
stems, providing attractive clumps for
entryways, containers, or as specimen plantings
in a ground cover. They also add an accent
to the front of a shrub border when planted
in groups or clumps. Plant on 2 to 3 foot
centers for a mass planting, farther for
a more open effect.
General Information
Scientific name: Nandina domestica
Pronunciation: nan-DEE-nuh doe-MESS-stick-kuh
Common name(s): Nandina, Heavenly Bamboo
Family: Berberidaceae
Plant type: shrub
USDA hardiness zones: 6B through 10
Planting month for zone 7: year round
Planting month for zone 8: year round
Planting month for zone 9: year round
Planting month for zone 10: year round
Origin: not native to North America
Uses: border; specimen; container or above-ground
planter; mass planting; accent; small parking
lot islands (< 100 square feet in size); medium-sized
parking lot islands (100-200 square feet in size);
large parking lot islands (> 200 square feet
in size)
Availablity: generally available in many areas
within its hardiness range
Description
Height: 5 to 8 feet
Spread: 2 to 3 feet
Plant habit: upright
Plant density: open
Growth rate: moderate Fruit cover: fleshy
Texture: fine
Fruit color: red
Foliage
Leaf arrangement: alternate
Leaf type: tripinnately compound Trunk/bark/branches:
not particularly showy; typically multi-
Leaf margin: entire
Leaf shape: lanceolate
Leaf venation: pinnate; reticulate
Leaf type and persistence: evergreen
Leaf blade length: 2 to 4 inches
Leaf color: purple or red
Fall color: red
Fall characteristic: showy
Flower
Flower color: white
Flower characteristic: spring flowering
Fruit
Fruit shape: round
Fruit length: less than .5 inch
Fruit characteristic: persists on the plant;
attracts birds
Trunk and Branches
trunked or clumping stems
Current year stem/twig color: reddish
Current year stem/twig thickness: very thick
Culture
Light requirement: plant grows in part shade/part
sun
Soil tolerances: slightly alkaline; clay; sand;
acidic; loam
Drought tolerance: moderate
Soil salt tolerances: poor
Plant spacing: 24 to 36 inches
Other
Roots: sprouts from roots or lower
trunk
Winter interest: plant has winter interest
due to unusual form, nice persistent fruits,
showy winter trunk, or winter flowers
Outstanding plant: not particularly outstanding
Invasive potential: potentially invasive
Pest resistance: long-term health usually
not affected by pests
Use
and Management
Nandina is a low maintenance shrub, requiring
only one pruning each year to control plant height,
if needed. The tallest canes should be trimmed
to the ground or to different heights in early
spring to reduce the size. This will provide
for more foliage toward the ground and promote
a denser plant. Recent selections have produced
several dwarf cultivars, described below. Although
most of these do not flower and fruit, they do
produce vividly-colored fall foliage and can
be used as a ground cover. Some are nicer than
others.
Nandina grows and flowers well in partial shade but will exhibit richer-colored red fall foliage if planted in the sun. Foliage diseases will be less in full sun. Although tolerant of drought once established, rich soil and ample moisture will produce a lusher, better-looking plant. Plants survive with neglect, although regular fertilization encourages growth and thicker plants.
Dwarf cultivars available include: ‘Atropurpurea Nana’ is a rather ugly, reddish plant; ‘Compacta’, purplish winter color, 4 feet tall; `Firepower’, red to maroon fall foliage, 2 feet tall, virus free which gives it superior foliage; ‘Gulfstream’, reddishbronze fall foliage, 4 feet tall, upright habit, suckers from the base; ‘Harbor Dwarf’, bronze fall foliage, 1.5 to 2 feet tall;‘Moonbay’ and `Nana Purpurea’, both are rounded and spread, and they have red fall foliage and are 1.5 to 2.5 feet tall; and‘Woods Dwarf’, red to maroon fall foliage, 1.5 feet tall. The dwarf cultivar ‘Lowboy’ flowers and produces red berries, reaches 3 feet in height, and has red fall foliage. Propagation is by seed or division. Plants are generally only bothered by scale and mites.
Pests and Diseases
Leaf spot diseases often cause the lower leaves
to drop from the plant in the humid regions
of the nation. The disease appears to be
most severe on plants grown in partial shade
where the foliage can remain wet. Plants
remain uniformly dense to the ground in the
desert southwest.
by Edward F. Gilman
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