Heavenly Bamboo (Nandina domestica) Growing & Care Guide for Gardeners
Article by Dean Ravenscroft, Ph.D. - Updated 1st Feb 2024
- Plant Characteristics: Features lacy, bamboo-like foliage that changes color with the seasons, from green to red or purple, and produces clusters of white flowers followed by bright red berries.
- Growing & Care: Adaptable to a wide range of conditions but prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. Drought-tolerant once established and requires minimal care.
- Tips for New Gardeners: An ideal choice for those seeking low-maintenance landscaping with year-round interest. Prune selectively to maintain shape and encourage new growth.
The Nandina domestica plant is a native of Asia. It is widespread throughout the region growing from Japan to as far as the Indian Himalayas. It is often grown in the garden for its attractive autumn and winter foliage and for its bushy habit.
This broadleaf evergreen is the lone member of the genus Nandina.
Plants tend to grow as upright shrubs and have attractive compound leaves that turn purple in the winter. These are carried on upright stems reminiscent of Bamboo.
It is an attractive plant throughout most of the year: flowering in spring, with attractive red berries in the winter.
Ideally grow in mass as this improves the somewhat interesting fruiting results.
Nandina Plant photograph by Melissa McMasters; CC.
It is known to contain toxins that may be dangerous to animals, and is thus often grown in as a deer or rabbit resistant plant. It is also drought tolerant, and can be grown in areas of heavy shade.
Heavenly Bamboo leaves picture by Bri Weldon.
Should you grow this plant?
As most parts of the plant are poisonous it is not recommended to grow this plant if you have pets (especially cats) or live close to grazing animals. The plant is also known to be toxic to birds, such as the Waxwing, that tend to eat them in mass.
Nandina Pink Leaves, image by Michael Coghlan; CC.
This plant is classed as an invasive species in some parts of the USA: notably North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, and Tennessee.
As with all plants that are not from your local area you should check carefully whether it is right to grow a plant in your area; this will very much depend on the local growth conditions.
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Quick Growing and Care Guide
- Scientific Name: Nandina domestica
- Common Name (s): Heavenly bamboo, Nandina, Sacred bamboo
- Growing Zone (USA / UK Hardiness): 6 to 9 / H5
Plant Details
- Life Cycle / Plant Type: Generally Evergreen (Loses leaves in the winter in very cold areas)
- Plant Height: Shrub. 3 to 8 feet (90 to 240 cm)
- Plant Spread: 2 to 4 feet (60 to 120 cm)
- Blooms: Early Summer
- Flower Details: Showy. Panicles. White. Star-shaped. Small.
- Leaf Foliage: Ornamental. Pinnate with lance shaped leaflets. Green turning red to purple in autumn and winter.
- Fruit: Bright red.
Growing Conditions
- Best Light Conditions: Partial shade to full sunlight. Afternoon shade for best results. Can tolerate heavy shade.
- Suitable Soil Types: Average. Rich and Humus for best results.
- Suitable Soil pH:
- Soil Soil Moisture: Good drainage. Medium moisture but fairly drought tolerant.
- Sowing, planting, and Propagation: Seeds should be sown into a sheltered part of the garden that gets afternoon sun. Propagate from semi-hardwood cuttings using season's growth in the autumn.
- Care: Low to Medium maintenance. Water regularly. Prune in mid to late spring to remove unhealthy and damaged tissue and to improve flowering. Provide winter mulch in colder areas.
Further Information
- Best used for: Bringing colour to the garden in the autumn and winter. Grow in mass for best results. Hedging. Zen gardens. Gateways. Flower borders. Courtyards. Containers.
- Miscellaneous: Named from the Japanese name: Nanten.
- Family: Berberidaceae.
- Closely related genera to this family:: Podophyllum; Berberis; Jeffersonia
- Further Reading and References used for this Nandina domestica growing guide: Plants for a future; RHS
I hope that you enjoyed this guide on how to grow Nandina domestica plants. You may also enjoy the following Gardener's HQ growing guides: How to grow Barrenwort and Pieris japonica plants.
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