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Plant of the Week
Heavenly Bamboo
Latin: Nandina domestica
I’ve always liked nandina. In fact, my first college paper on a plant way
back when, was on this shrub.
But landscape fashions change and the popularity of this venerable shrub seems
to come and go as new or more exciting plants appear on the scene.
Nandina is a shrub of the South. The English garden books mention it, but only
in passing because to achieve its full glory it must have the summer heat only
we can provide. In the South, nandina is one of our signature plants, because
once it is established it will persist almost indefinitely.
The standard nandina is a multi-trunked shrub to 6 feet tall with much of its
doubly and triply compound leaves attached at the top, giving the plant a
bamboo-like appearance. It is not a bamboo but actually related most closely to
the barberries.
The nandina clump spreads slowly by means of an underground root system and can
eventually occupy a space three or more feet across. Clusters of showy white
flowers appear in late spring and are followed by dense pea-size red berries
which persist through the winter until the plant flowers again in the spring.
The berries do not seem to be much preferred by birds. In the winter the leaves
take on varying shades of red, maroon and green in a most appealing fashion.
Nandina is native to southwestern China where it has been cultivated since at
least the Tang Dynasty of the 6th Century. It was introduced into Japan possibly
as late as the 1600s and the first descriptions to Western science were from
there. In fact, the name Nandina is derived from the Japanese name Nan-din. The
epitaph domestica, is from the Japanese custom of planting the shrub near the
front door of the house. If a family member were to have a bad dream, all ill
effects could be avoided by confiding the dream to the Nan-din upon arising.
The Chinese, and to large measure the Japanese, do not favor our Western style
of gardening. While China is the home of 80 percent of our garden shrubs, only a
relatively few of these are used in Chinese gardens. Nandina is one of the few
chosen plants. It is often used as an offering for altars and home shrines. In
winter, cut nandina stems are sold for the Chinese New Year celebration much as
we sell holly branches for Christmas.
Nandina was introduced to England in 1804 and probably made its way to the U.S.
shortly thereafter. It has been used extensively in southern gardens as a part
of the foundation planting where it often looks a bit top heavy because of its
bare base and leafy top.
Most plants would benefit from having two thirds of the erect growing canes cut
out to expose the grace of the stems. But, don’t throw away the stems. They are
said to be the best toothpick wood available because of their delicate taste.
Nandina grows in full sun or light shade. It grows faster and bigger in good
soil than poor, but it will grow in either. Once established it is very drought
resistant. It seems immune to disease and insect attack except for possibly
grasshoppers.
In northern parts of Arkansas nandina will occasionally freeze to the ground
when temperatures fall below minus 10 degrees Fahrenheit.
By: Gerald Klingaman, retired
Extension Horticulturist
- Ornamentals
Extension News -
November 12, 1999
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