 |
| Nandina domestica |
Looking for all season interest in your landscape? Nandina domestica is a semi-evergreen broad-leaved shrub which is known for its interesting display of bamboo-looking foliage. Creamy-white flowers in spring are followed by pink fruit that matures to bright red berries in winter along with colorful foliage that changes from green to shades of pink and yellow on outer branches. Nandina grows to a height of 6-8 feet and width 2-4 feet and is ideal for foundation plantings, woodland gardens, informal and natural settings. Nandina is deciduous only in very cold climates where temperatures fall below -10 degrees. It is semi-evergreen in zones 6-9 and evergreen in zones 8-10. Nandina domestica thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers to be grown in a moist well-drained soil.
 |
| Nandina domestica (Late Spring) |
Nandina is a low maintenance shrub only requiring occasional pruning once a year to control height and maintain fullness. Several dwarf cultivars of Nandina have also been produced. Two of the nicer varieties are Nandina 'Gulf Stream' which grows to a height of 4 feet tall and 'Firepower' which reaches a maximum height of 2 feet tall. 'Gulf Stream' exhibits mostly green foliage in summer and bronze-red foliage in fall. 'Firepower' is known for its green foliage with red tips in summer followed by bright red-maroon foliage in fall. The dwarf forms do not produce flowers and fruit, and are known for their superior changing foliage. Unlike Bamboo, Nandina (False Bamboo) is considered non-invasive in most areas, but always check your local Cooperative Extension for updated information.
 |
| Nandina domestica (Heavenly Bamboo) Winter Foliage |
Nandina domestica is drought tolerant once established, is not susceptible to any particular diseases and is long-lived. It also known to be "deer resistant". Nandina domestica is an all around interesting addition that fits nicely into a number of landscape settings. If you are looking to add continued interest to your landscape give this plant a try and it will supply you with years of enjoyment.
(Update 2017): Research has found that the berries of Nandina may be toxic to some varieties of birds. This plant can still be used for its beautiful foliage and can be purchased in sterile form. If you have Nandina for its interest in the garden, prune off berries once they mature to avoid any harm to wildlife.
As Always...Happy Gardening!
it must be a pretty pop of red in the garden, especially with the snow. i have holly in 2 of my gardens with only a few berries right now. i wonder if the birds have gotten in to them ;)
ReplyDeletehave a happy weekend!!
The berries on the nandina and holly are an added plus especially in the winter...food for the birds. Thank you for visiting!
DeleteThis looks pretty but would likely not grow in my Zone 3 climate.
ReplyDeleteHi Ruth. It acts more as a deciduous shrub in temperatures below -10 F but has nice summer foliage. In your zone it would have no winter foliage but it is hardy to -10 F (-23 C). I'm not sure how cold it gets there.
DeleteWe have 2 of these (the smaller varieties), and they are such a wonderful pop of color in the wintertime. :-)
ReplyDeleteHappy Sunday to you, Lee!
They are nice plants aren't they? I like how they supply food for the birds as well. Thanks for visiting and for your comment Lisa!
DeleteI've recently added Gulf Stream to my garden. Currently still residing in the pot is was bought in until I can decide where to put it. It hasn't been cold enough here yet to make any difference to how it looks.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the profile - certainly more information on here than is on the label.
Glad to be of help Angie. That is what blogging is all about! Thanks for the feedback!
DeleteI'm always looking for color to add to the winter garden, but because we're in zone 5a-5b I was wondering if it would still hold its berries through winter even though it would lose its leaves. And I think it would be wonderful for the birds, too. Also, do you know if it needs to cross pollinate to produce berries? Thanks for the information.
ReplyDeleteHi Susan. Thanks for visiting! Nandina does cross pollinate so it is best to have a cluster of them together. Do remember that some varieties (the dwarfs) do not flower and get berries so make sure you get the taller original cultivar (Nandina domestica). It will lose its leaves in zone 5 but the berries and their stalks should probably remain on the plant. We suffered some harsh winters here in zone 7 before my plants got really established and they lost most of their foliage but the berries remained. Holly, Vibernum and Winterberry also produce nice winter berries. You will see my Nellie Stevens Holly berries (zone 6) in the next post and there is an existing post on Berry-Producing Shrubs with many possibilities for your zone so you may want to check it out. :)
DeleteI love this and thought it was pretty much indestructible, but have killed one already. Guess it's time to try again.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure which zone you are in Ricki but you may have gotten a weak plant that just didn't get established. Give it another try! They are hardy to zone 3 as a deciduous shrub.
DeleteOh, lovely – I so like a bush with all year interest, now if I could only find a space for it in my garden… :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info, have a good week!
Thank you for visiting Helene. I am sure you will find space in your lovely gardens. Nandina is a great shrub for every season so it would bring you lots of enjoyment! Have a good week!
DeleteGorgeous red berries! Perfect for birds and for photographers :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by Astrid. It does have a dual purpose. I do get a lot of enjoyment from the bright red berries in the wintertime, especially with all this snow. P.S. I loved your last post!
DeleteHow lovely!
ReplyDeleteALOHA from Honolulu
Comfort Spiral
=^..^= <3
Thanks so much for visiting and commenting Cloudia. I enjoyed viewing your lovely quotes and photographs! :)
DeleteI love your plant descriptions, Lee, they are so informative. When buying new plants I am trying to stick to natives, as I don't have enough in my garden. Heavenly bamboo, with its beautiful berries, is tempting, though. P. x
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you enjoyed this post Pam. I try to supply as much information as I can so readers can know the requirements of the plant. The false (Heavenly Bamboo) is not native but would fit nicely into an informal or natural setting. Be well. :)
DeleteI am not familiar with this shrub and love those red berries. We're in zone 5 here and I have a feeling that based on your description it may not be hardy here (you say it is semi-evergreen for zone 6-9, but is it hardy)?
ReplyDeleteHi Jennifer. In Ontario (Zone 5) you are borderline. Nandina is semi-evergreen and hardy in zones 6-9. I have had mine for years in zone 7 and it does well. It will act as a deciduous shrub in zone 5 but would have the berries; however, it may die back all the way if your temperatures get below -10 degrees. Hope this helps to answer your question. :)
DeleteI 'met' Nandina on a trip to Australia a while back. I live in New Brunswick, Canada and I would like to know where I can get the cuttings of this beautiful shrub. I would bring mine indoors for the winter, or course, and use it as a container plant.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your help!
Raymonde
It is a lovely shrub. I have seen it sold in small gallon pots and as seeds on line. Try amazon.
DeleteThank you!
DeleteAs an animal lover, I had to share this. Research has found that the berries of Nandina may be toxic to some varieties of birds. This plant can still be used for its beautiful foliage and can be purchased in sterile form. If you have Nandina for its interest in the garden, please prune off berries once they mature to avoid any harm to wildlife.
DeleteSo are the berries of the heavenly bamboo really seeds?
ReplyDeleteYes. Nandina domestica flowers in summer. The seed is ready for harvest when it turns a vibrant red in late Autumn.
Delete