Plant: Sacred Bamboo / Nandina Domestica

Plant description

Nandina is an upright evergreen shrub in the barberry family from China and Japan, 3 to 8 feet tall and 2 to 5 feet wide, with bi to tripinnately compound leaves that run red bronze in spring, bluish green in summer and purplish red in fall. White panicles open in late spring and are followed by bright red berries that persist through winter. It takes sun to dappled shade, most soils and a wide pH range, and tolerates deer, drought, heavy shade and salt. Two cautions dominate: NC State lists it as an invasive species in North Carolina and recommends alternatives or sterile non fruiting cultivars, and every part is toxic, carrying cyanogenic glycosides that poison humans, cats, dogs, horses and birds.

Flowers

White flowers with yellow anthers, 5 to 13 mm across, carried on erect terminal panicles 10 to 12 inches long in late spring.

Foliage

Alternate, bi to tripinnately compound evergreen leaves 1 to 2 feet long, red bronze in spring, bluish green in summer and purplish red in fall.

Fruit

Bright red round berries 8 mm across on large terminal panicles, each holding two seeds, persisting through winter.

Light

Dappled/Filtered Light

Native range

Central and Southern China and Japan

Plant details