Nandina domestica

( nan - DEE - nuh    duh - MEH - stih - kuh )

At-A-Glance Information

This species of evergreen or semi evergreen shrub is commonly called Heavenly Bamboo or Sacred Bamboo. They need partial shade in warmer climates and little to regular water. Take care when planting these in your yard, as the berries are toxic, to humans and pets; especially to livestock animals. It is native to China and Japan and has lacy looking foliage. Heavenly Bamboo reaches 6-8 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide, with bronze new foliage that matures to green. Fall color is usually purple and bronze and winter color is bright crimson. The foliage makes good filler for cut arrangements. Flowers appear in clusters at branch tips and shiny red berries follow blooms in instances where the plants are grouped together in groves. These plants make great screens and hedges. Take care when planting these in your garden; they spread via underground runners and can be somewhat invasive. Check with your local agricultural extension office before planting.

Nandina Domestica Varietals

Nandina domestica is the sole member of the Nandina genus, which is a member of the plant family Berberidaceae. Despite the common name 'Bamboo', these shrubs are not in the Bamboo genus. The name 'Heavenly Bamboo' likely comes from the shrubs bamboo-like appearance, with segmented stems and fine, lacy foliage. The similarities are mainly superficial, and Nandina domestica is actually more closely related to other plants in the Berberidaceae family, like Barberry and Oregon Grape. Heavenly Bamboo grows well in zones 3-24, H1 and H2. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
'Fire Power'
2 feet tall compact variety.
'Gulf Stream'
3-4 foot tall variety.
'Harbor Dwarf'
Grows to 2-3 feet in height.
'Sienna Sunrise'
3-4 feet tall.
'Moyers Red'
To 6-8 feet tall.
'Plum Passion'
Reaches 4-6 feet tall.
'Royal Princess'
Reaches 6-8 feet tall.
'Filamentosa'
A dwarf version topping out at 1-3 feet tall.
'San Gabriel'
Very similar to 'Filamentosa'.

Caring for and pruning nandina domestica shrubs

Plant Nandina domestica in full to partial sun. These plants can tolerate shade, though they do best in a location that gets at least 6 hours of sunlight each day. These shrubs prefer soil that is well-draining that is slightly acidic to neutral (with a pH of between 3.7 and 6.4). Keep soil consistently moist, especially while the plant is getting established. At maturity, these shrubs are drought-tolerant and prefer deep waterings with dry soil in between. Reduce watering in wintertime during rains and when the plant enters dormancy. Apply 2-3 inches of mulch around the base of the plant to increase soil water retention. These shrubs don't require much in the way of feeding, but can benefit from an application of a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in springtime. Avoid over-fertilizing. These shrubs can be grown in containers, in which instance they will need more frequent waterings and feedings to perform well. The upside of using these shrubs in containers is that their wandering roots don't have space to spread. 

Propagation

Heavenly Bamboo is most easily propagated via seeds. To learn how to complete this process, read the instructions below:

Propagating Nandina domestica by Seed
  1. Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows. 
  2. Harvest your seeds in autumn. The seeds are contained in the fruits produced by these plants after the flowers fade. Remove the seeds from the fruit, and set them out.
  3. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 7-14 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
  4. Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Problems and Pests

These shrubs are generally pest and disease resistant, but one should still be on the lookout for:
  • Aphids
  • Scale Insects
  • Spider Mites
For information on how to treat these issues, see the links below:
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Gallery

These shrubs are wonderful for adding color to otherwise monotone landscapes.
The berries produced by these plants are bright red.
Use these shrubs in mixed plantings; dwarf varieties are good for foreground plantings.

Videos

All about these wonderful shrubs.
All about Heavenly Bamboo.

Resources

Nandina domestica (Heavenly Bamboo)
Wikipedia: Nandina
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 450, Nandina domestica (Heavenly Bamboo, Sacred Bamboo)
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