Nandinas are rhizomatous, especially the straight species because of its larger size. This plant rarely blooms or sets fruit. Birds eat the berries and spread the plants' seeds, and they spread vegetatively too, growing outward via suckers and rhizomes. Photo by Karen Russ, ©2007 HGIC, Clemson Extension. 'Gulfstream' is slightly larger, growing 3 feet wide and 3 to 3 1/2 feet tall and featuring orange-tinted, coppery young foliage that matures to turquoise in summer, then turns orange-red in fall. In U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6 through 9, where nandina shrubs grow year-round, they can become invasive. Hosta 'June' (Plantain Lily) A lovely, compact variegated hosta, 'June'... Tulbaghia violacea (Society Garlic) Eryngium giganteum (Miss Willmott's Ghost) Alchemilla mollis (Lady's Mantle) The berries are toxic, as they contain cyanide, and can cause bird mortality if consumed in quantity**. There are dwarf nandina varieties if you'd prefer a smaller plant. This dwarf grows to 2 feet tall and 1½ to 2 feet wide. One advantage of Nandina is that it does not send underground sprouts all over the garden as bamboo does. The cultivars producing fruit are listed last for purely educational purposes. In the summer, these colors are complemented by a dusting of delicate white flowers, while the fall brings a blast of bright red clumps … While the new growth of that plant is a beautiful bronzy-red, this … 'Compacta' can be kept about 3 feet and 'Firepower' around 2 feet tall. 'Moyer's Red' is hardy in USDA zones 6a through 10b, and 'Royal Princess' is hardy in USDA zones 6 through 11. The variety 'Obsession' is closely related to 'Gulfstream,' but grows 2 to 2 1/2 feet tall and wide and offers scarlet spring and fall foliage. 'Sienna Sunrise' is hardy in USDA zones 6 through 11, and 'Lemon Lime' is hardy in USDA zones 6 through 9. Nandinas do well in USDA zones 6 through 9. However, both shrubs bear heavy crops of bright-red berries, which can make them invasive. Stems are damaged at 5 °F, but the plant usually recovers fast. Careful pruning helps shape it to fit you space. Moderate grower to 4 to 5 ft. tall, 3 ft. wide: Bloom Time: Late spring to summer: Design Ideas: This smaller Nandina is ideal for little gardens. A graduate of Leeds University, Jenny Green completed Master of Arts in English literature in 1998 and has been writing about gardening and homes since 2007. Join our mailing list to receive the latest updates from HGIC. It produces few if any berries. ‘Gulfstream’ has a rounded form, and is a dwarf that grows to 3 to 3½ feet tall and 3 feet wide. The berries are creamy yellow on plants that grow to 6 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide. No flowers or fruit are formed. Summer foliage is deep blue-green and fall foliage becomes orange and red. The color of the foliage varies depending on the amount of sun the plant receives. It can be moved at any time except midsummer. It's cold hardy and does well anywhere in South Florida. Tall Nandina is an is easy shrub to care for and is popular for low maintenance gardens. ‘Leucocarpa’ is similar to the species, but the foliage lacks the typical reddish tinge. This plant rarely blooms or sets fruit. Suggested uses for nandina include border, specimen plant and foundation, depending on the cultivar. And Nana nandina caught everyone’s eye. The leaves are lime green in spring and brilliant red in fall. Because of this potential, Nandina domestica and its cultivars that produce fruit are not recommended as suggested landscape plants*. Nandinas should be planted in partial shade to full sun. Bushier in form, it serves as a foundation plant, miniature hedge or single specimen. Nandina, commonly called Heavenly or Sacred Bamboo, are exceptionally tough yet beautiful evergreen shrubs with a bamboo-like structure and foliage and will grow in sun or shade, which makes them one of the most compatible companion plants in existence! Heavenly Bamboo, Sacred Bamboo, Nandina, Chinese Sacred Bamboo. Nandina domestica 6-8 feet tall, or 3-4 feet for dwarf varieties White flowers in spring, red berries in fall, evergreen or mostly evergreen Photos by Chris Evans, Used with permission Photos by James H. Miller, Used with permission Nandina shrubs (Nandina domestica) are the kinds of plants that gardeners love. This information is supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement of brand names or registered trademarks by the Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service is implied, nor is any discrimination intended by the exclusion of products or manufacturers not named. **Woldemeskel, M. and E.L. Styler. However, some varieties can benefit from pruning. The shrubs are also called heavenly bamboo due to their upright shoots, which resemble those of bamboo, but in fact they're no relation. Once established, nandinas are very drought tolerant plants. They’re far too tall, but, more than that, they’re also very leggy down near the ground. Lemon Lime does not produce flowers and fruit. Nandina (Nandina domestica) is also known as "heavenly bamboo." Some bird species, such as cedar waxwing, northern mockingbird and American robin, will consume the berries in winter when other food sources are not available. Nandina Domestica Tall “Heavenly Bamboo” Tall Nandina is a taller growing variety than the popular Dwarf Nandina. Although the standard Nandina domestica grows as a tall green shrub that turns a little red in winter and produces white flower spikes and clusters of red berries, other new Nandina varieties offer different growth habits, foliage colors and don't produce flowers or berries. Plant specs. Nandina domestica ‘Firecracker’, a dwarf variety whose leaves turn deep red in winter. 'Moyer's Red' is a semidwarf variety that grows 2 to 5 feet wide and 4 to 6 feet tall and features light-pink flowers, while 'Royal Princess' is larger, growing up to 8 feet tall and offering blush-colored blooms. The Heavenly Bamboo Nandina offers a brilliant display of colors ranging from cherry-red to royal purple in beautiful hues that change with the seasons. All recommendations for pesticide use are for South Carolina only and were legal at the time of publication, but the status of registration and use patterns are subject to change by action of state and federal regulatory agencies. COVID-19 Extension Updates and Resources ... More Information », Factsheet | HGIC 1071 | Updated: Dec 4, 2018 | Print. There are several varieties, but if needed, the taller stems can be pruned to lower the height of the plants. In 2005 April Herring and Adriana Garza, at the Magnolia Gardens Nursery, in Magnolia, Texas, spotted a unique plant growing in a tray of small plants of the Nandina variety ‘Gulf Stream’. Marjan Kluepfel, Former HGIC Horticulture Information Specialist, Clemson UniversityBob Polomski, PhD, Associate Extension Specialist, Clemson University, Joey Williamson, PhD, HGIC Horticulture Extension Agent, Clemson University. Photo by Karen Russ, ©2007 HGIC, Clemson Extension. The large clusters of flowers are light pink rather than white, and fruits are red. Red berries contrast with the burgundy and maroon fall foliage. 'Sienna Sunrise' grows 2 feet wide and 3 to 4 feet tall. Nandina grows 5 to 7 feet high and spreads 3 to 5 feet. The fall foliage has red highlights. It grows up to 5 feet tall. This is a rhizomatous, upright, evergreen shrub that typically grows to 4-8’ tall … Flirt™ (‘Murasaki’, PP#21391) has deep red new growth and evergreen mature foliage. It is a sport of ‘Gulfstream’, with bright red young foliage, deep green mature foliage, and again brilliant red in fall and winter. Fall color is brilliant red with orange overtones. It does not produce flowers or fruit. Vividly colored shoots and leaves are what set nandinas apart from many other shrubs. If plants are grouped, shiny red berries, ⅓ inch in diameter, follow the flowers in September and persist into and through the winter. Both varieties rarely or never produce flowers or fruit. It grows 12 to 24 inches per year, depending on conditions, including location, light, fertility and water. Harbor Belle™ (‘Jaytee’, PP#14688) is a dwarf that maintains a height of 18 to 24 inches. Nandina domestica, commonly called heavenly bamboo, is a broadleaf evergreen shrub that is ornamentally grown for its interesting foliage and its often spectacular fruit display. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage. Blush Pink: A “nana” nandina that grows 2′ tall x 1-2′ wide, Blush is an improved “nana” type with blush pinkish-red colored new growth tips throughout much of the growing season instead of the typical lime green new growth of most “nana” types. New foliage emerges bright pink before turning green. The foliage is tinged red in winter, especially in full sun and with some frost. ‘Nana’ or ‘Nana Atropurpurea’ is a dwarf that grows to 2 to 3 feet with bright green foliage in summer that turns crimson red in winter. ‘Woods Dwarf’ is a rounded dwarf form to 3 feet with dense, crimson red foliage in winter. Dry soil and shady spots don't faze nandinas, though they need morning or afternoon sunlight to put on their best display of colorful foliage, flowers and berries. New growth is bronze with orange tints. It has fleshy roots, which aid in rapid recovery from transplanting. Renew neglected shrubs by removing 1/3 of the oldest canes in the spring of each year for three years. Compact selections of nandina, such as Flirt™ Nandina, Blush Pink™ Nandina or Obsession™ Nandina from Southern Living, remain tidy with little or no pruning. White flowers are followed by bright red berries. Spring foliage has multi-colored hues of pink, then leaves mature to dark green. Use for mass plantings to create an intense, colorful landscape effect as color changes. Rich Variations of Color + Eye-Catching Growth Habit Why Heavenly Bamboo Nandina Shrubs? Vividly colored shoots and leaves are what set nandinas apart from many other shrubs. Nandina domestica Height & Width: 20-30 in x 20-30 in Flowers: NO Fruit: No Growth habit: Dwarf, compact, mounding, non spreading Obsession Nandina domestica Height & Width: 24-30 in x 20-24 in Flowers: On occasion Fruit: In cold areas Growth habit: Dwarf, compact, upright, nonspreading Gulf Stream Nandina domestgca Height & Width: 24-30 in x in This evergreen shrub can be kept 4 to 6 feet tall, though you can let it grow to 10 feet if you prefer. ‘Compacta’ is a semi-dwarf nandina and only reaches 4 feet in height. Here are the proper techniques to employ. This new nandina from our Southern Living Plant Collection is named 'Blush Pink.' Dwarf nandinas that don't flower or set fruit include 'Fire Power,' which grows 2 to 2 1/2 feet tall and wide and is named for its brilliant red fall and winter foliage. It is best to thin out old stems every year or head back old canes at varying lengths to produce a dense plant. Taller, ordinary nandina grows lanky and bare at the bottom over time. Sienna Sunrise® (‘Monfar’, PP#14693) grows to 3 to 4 feet tall and 2 feet wide. Autumn Blaze Maple, Missouri Botanical Garden: Nandina Domestica, University of Florida IFAS Extension: Nandina Domestica, North Carolina State University Extension: Nandina Domestica, San Marcos Growers: Nandina Domestica 'Royal Princess' - Heavenly Bamboo, Plant Lust: Nandina Domestica 'Moyer's Red, T-Y Nursery: Nandina Domestica ‘Royal Princess’. Royal Princess – Reaching up to 8 feet tall, this displays blush-coloured blooms. Two dwarf types came along in the 60s and early 70s. The most commonly produced cultivars are included in the following sections. When to prune. Clusters of tiny cream-colored flowers are followed by bright red berries. Harbour Dwarf could be used as a tall groundcover or low, bordering shrub to 18 to 22 inches tall. The white flowers are held on large panicles, and followed by bright red berries. Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or family status and is an equal opportunity employer. ‘Moyer’s Red’ is a semi-dwarf form, maturing to a height of 4 to 6 feet and 2 to 5 feet wide. Nandinas flower in late spring, when sprays of tiny blooms appear. If you cut a given stem back almost to the soil line, it will regrow from its base. Fern-like leaves turn fiery red in the fall, but bright white blooms appear in spring. Feeding Behavior-Related Toxicity due to Nandina domestica in Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum). Wild plants can grow up to 8 feet tall, making them too large for many gardens. Young foliage is pinkish, then turns to soft light green. It has fiery red spring foliage that changes to green in summer. Although native to Japan and China, Nandina domestica, commonly called heavenly bamboo or sacred bamboo, thrives in dry, Mediterranean-type climates. The plant looks like bamboo in its lightly branched, cane-like stems and delicate, fine-textured foliage. Use pesticides only according to the directions on the label. Sienna Sunrise – Growing 3–4 feet tall, it features glaring red foliage with red highlights in fall. The plant looks like bamboo in its lightly branched, cane-like stems and delicate, fine-textured foliage. Evergreen. Obsession™ (‘Seika’, PP#21891) is an upright compact selection that grows to 3 to 4 feet tall and wide. It has lacy foliage, which turns red to red-bronze in fall and winter. It has a habit of suckering and reseeds itself readily, occasionally naturalizing. It is a dwarf that grows to 1 to 2 feet tall and 1½ to 2 feet wide. ‘Fire Power’ is a very compact plant that grows to 2 or 2½ feet tall and wide. It is weedy in disturbed areas, persisting after planting and escaping. ‘Moon Bay’ (PP#5659) is a dwarf selection that grows to 2 to 3 feet tall and wide. ‘Alba’ is a 4- to 6-foot shrub with creamy white berries and yellowish-green foliage that lacks the reddish colors of other nandinas. Versatile and durable, effective as a specimen plant for screening or in borders. Nandina domestica 'Moyer's Red': four to six feet tall and wide with light-pink blooms; Nandina domestica 'Richmond': five feet tall and wide. This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. Nandina leaves and berries are toxic and may be harmful to birds, humans, grazing animals and cats. Nandina domestica is considered an invasive plant in the Southeast US. Answer: Nandinas are pruned in an uncommon way. Leaves emerge with coppery tints. Nandina is a slow- to moderate-growing shrub. Follow all directions, precautions and restrictions that are listed. Nandina does not have any serious diseases or insect problems, and are considered deer resistant. Most nandina varieties that flower produce white blooms, but a few offer pink or pinkish-white blossoms. For a change from the usual white or creamy white, grow 'Moyer's Red' or 'Royal Princess.' Blush Pink™ (‘AKA’, PP#19916) has pink new growth and a fall color of bright pink and red foliage. Nandina is easily transplanted from containers. New growth is lime green in summer, and foliage becomes bright red in fall and winter. Nandina prefers moist, fertile soil, protected from harsh winds. The stems emerge right from the base of the plants. If this document didn’t answer your questions, please contact HGIC at hgic@clemson.edu or 1-888-656-9988. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. It is native to Japan, China and India. Plum Passion® (‘Monum’, PP#12069) is a semi-dwarf that grows to 4 to 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide. Nandina domestica ‘Pygmea’ (or ‘Nana’), characterized by its dense foliage and small size - growing only 2-4 feet tall. 'Sienna Sunrise' is one such variety, putting on a spring show with its blazing red foliage and displaying red highlights in fall. Fire Power Nandina is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a mounded form. Bird consumption of nandina fruit also aids in the spread of this plant. Plants are dense and compact. Nandina loses its leaves at 10 °F. Nandina grows 5 to 7 feet high and spreads 3 to 5 feet. It looks like standard nandina, but it just doesn’t grow nearly as tall. October Glory Maple vs. The flowers appear in May to June and are pi… Green's work appears in SFGate, Mom.me, The Pink Plumber and many home services blogs . Pink-Flowered Nandinas. Careful pruning must be practiced. The leaves are divided into many 1- to 2- inch, pointed, oval leaflets, creating a lacy pattern. The foliage is tinged red in winter, especially in full sun and with some frost. How to Prune Nandinas. It features the same reddish new leaves mature to blue-gray with time, as well as nice fine whitish flowers. It produces no flowers or fruit. ‘Harbour Dwarf’ is a freely spreading, low-growing (to 2 feet) plant and spreads to 3 feet wide. The products I use - https://kit.com/HortTubeThis video is a detailed description of Flirt™ Nandina. Heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica), also known as sacred bamboo, is a commonly used landscape shrub native to Asia, from India to Japan.The attractiveness of Nandina is in part its adaptability to a range of conditions, as well as the number of its available cultivars, seasonal fall foliage and sprays of red berries in winter that rival red-berried hollies. Dwarf nandinas brighten yards without taking up much room, and several varieties are noninvasive. What Are the Different Types of Nandina Shrubs? This variety fits well for screening hedges, as it attains a height of 7-8 … Toxicity It produces no flowers or fruit. The Top Nandina Shrub Varieties Heavenly Bamboo Nandina – A virtual rainbow of red-tinted colors in one sun-loving shrub that is semi- evergreen. Compact cultivars allow nandinas to go where old-fashioned varieties could not – into containers. For an alternative nandina, consider 'Lemon Lime,' which also grows 3 to 4 feet tall, but bucks the trend with its yellow-green spring foliage that turns chartreuse in summer. It has a cane-like growth and can grow 6-8' tall. ‘Lemon Lime’ (PP#24749) grows into a compact plant that is 3 to 4 feet tall and wide. However, some dwarf nandina cultivars do not produce fruit and would not present a problem. It produces a multitude of red-orange berries. In most plantings, the plant remains quite compact. Fire Power Nandina – This is a compact shrub of contrasts. All recommendations are for South Carolina conditions and may not apply to other areas. Each flower is ¼ to ½ inch across, appearing in loose, erect, 6- to 12-inch clusters at the end of the branches. Growing up to 8 feet tall and 4 feet wide, nandina shrubs display bright-red fall foliage, and many varieties also provide beautifully colored new growth in spring. It grows up to 8ft tall, as opposed to Dwarf Nandina which stays at 2-4ft. The leaves are divided into many 1- to 2- inch, pointed, oval leaflets, creating a lacy pattern. To help prevent nandinas from taking over your yard, grow nonfruiting varieties. Bright berries of nandina (Nandina domestica) last from fall through spring. Single plants seldom fruit heavily. It grows only 2 feet tall and wide -- perfect for massing under low windows or planting in containers. Brilliant red leaf color of ‘Fire Power’ Nandina in winter. Nandina is a commonly cultivated ornamental upright evergreen shrub known for its beautiful bright red berries. Vet Med Int., Dec. 9, 2010. Underground stems or rhizomes send up stems several inches from the parent plant, making it a good groundcover. Seasonal Foliage. The new foliage emerges yellow-green and turns to a richer lime green. Royal Princess Nandina. Dwarf Nandina Shrubs. Young foliage is pinkish, then turns to soft light green. Lacy green leaves on upright cane-like stems turn brilliant red in autumn. Nandina or heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica) is an evergreen or semi-evergreen broadleaf shrub, which is tough and durable. They also produce many seedlings, which can be a problem in some areas. Foliage is a deep purple-red in spring, dark green in summer, and purple red in fall and winter. Transform the winter… 'Fire Power' and 'Gulf Stream' are hardy in USDA zones 6 through 11, whereas 'Obsession' is hardy in USDA zones 6a through 10b. Despite its name, it is not related to bamboo at all; it is actually a shrub with bamboo-like leaves. The flowers appear in May to June and are pinkish white. Copyright © 2021 Clemson UniversityClemson Cooperative Extension | 103 Barre Hall Clemson, SC 29634864-986-4310 | Contact UsHGIC@clemson.edu, College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences, Centipedegrass Yearly Maintenance Program. In fall and winter, the leaves turn bright red. Nandina domestica ‘Richmond’, known for its heavy berry production. This nandina rarely blooms or sets fruit. This means that they spread slowly by underground stems to form small colonies. Winter foliage has reddish to purplish tones. Obsession – Related to the above, it grows 2 to 2 1/2 feet tall and wide and features scarlet spring and fall foliage. This cultivar is more susceptible to cold damage than the species. It grows to be basketball-sized, and its leaves turn brilliant red in the winter. 'Flirt' nandina stays even smaller. Leaves assume a reddish tint in winter when grown in full sun. Large plants have been growing in South Carolina for 100 or more years without any care. If cultivars are listed in catalogs or in nurseries without of the mention of fruiting, SC residents will realize that these are indeed fruit-producing nandinas.