Nandina domestica

This plant is problematic and alternatives should be considered.  Please see the suggestions in the left-hand column.

Heavenly bamboo is a commonly cultivated ornamental upright evergreen shrub in the Berberidaceae (barberry) family known for its beautiful bright red berries and colorful foliage.  This Asian native is aggressive and has a network of rhizomatous stems that have a habit of suckering, and it reseeds itself readily. It naturalizes and establishes dense stands in forest habitats or disturbed sites, especially in the piedmont and mountainous regions of North Carolina, and is considered an invasive species in several states.

It has upright unbranched cane-like growth from 3 to 8 feet tall but can become leggy unless pruned. This plant flowers in the late spring and has ornamental fruits in the fall that persist through the winter months. The new growth is reddish, but the fall foliage of most cultivars is not dependable and varies in one plant seasonally and annually. 

Heavenly bamboo is a native of China and Japan. In the early 1800s, this plant was introduced to North America. It was widely planted as an ornamental but has escaped cultivation. It tends to be invasive in the southeastern United States.

The genus name, Nandina, is the Latin form of the Japanese name for this plant, Nanten. The specific epithet, domestica, means domesticated.

Heavenly bamboo can grow in full sun to shade and a range of soil types, but it prefers moist, well-drained, fertile soil. It is adaptable to extremes of soil and exposure. The foliage prefers full sun and some afternoon shade. More fruits are produced when this shrub is planted in groups. It is drought-tolerant, shade tolerant, slightly salt-tolerant, and particularly resistant to damage by deer.  This shrub is evergreen in plant hardiness zones of 8 to 10. In colder climates, it may be considered semi-evergreen to deciduous. 

The foliage and ornamental berries add interest to the landscape, especially in mass plantings; however, the berries are toxic to humans, livestock, horses, cats, dogs, and birds such as Cedar Waxwings. The berries contain cyanide and when consumed in quantity can be toxic.

Because this plant has a tendency to be invasive and considering its toxicity, if ingested by pets or children, it may be best to consider an alternative shrub. Consider one of the non-flowering cultivars such as Firepower or perhaps an ornamental shrub native to the United States such as the American Beautyberry, Buttonbush, native viburnums or Winterberry.

Seasons of Interest:

Bloom:  Spring         Foliage:  Year-round in Hardiness Zones 6 to 9     Fruits:  Fall and Winter

Quick ID Hints:

• Terminal cluster of bright red berries
• Medium evergreen shrub with cane-like growth
• Decompound leaves, 1-2' long
• Reddish new growth and fall foliage

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This shrub has no serious insect or disease problems. Invasive

VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy, and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.