Heavenly Bamboo
Nandina domestica
An evergreen-to-semi-evergreen shrub with lacy, bamboo-like foliage that flushes red in cool weather, plus white summer flowers and showy red winter berries. Despite the name, it is not a true bamboo.
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Medium; drought-tolerant once established
- Difficulty
- Easy
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Overview
Heavenly bamboo is an upright, cane-stemmed shrub native to eastern Asia. Its airy, finely divided foliage resembles bamboo, but it belongs to the barberry family, not the grass family.
Leaves emerge reddish, mature green, and often turn brilliant red or burgundy in fall and winter cold. Loose clusters of white flowers in summer give way to bright red berries that persist through winter, making it a popular four-season shrub in mild climates.
Note: The species is invasive in parts of the southeastern United States, so consider sterile, fruitless cultivars.
How to identify it
- Stems: Upright, unbranched, cane-like stems growing in a clump
- Leaves: Large, compound, finely divided into many small pointed leaflets, giving a lacy, bamboo-like look; reddish when new and in cold weather
- Flowers: Loose, airy panicles of small white flowers with yellow centers in early summer
- Fruit: Dense clusters of round, bright red berries ripening in fall and lasting through winter
- Habit: Clumping, upright shrub typically 3-8 ft tall, with dwarf cultivars under 2 ft
Care & growing
Light: Full sun to part shade; best foliage color and berry set in sun.
Water: Average moisture; well-established plants tolerate drought.
Soil: Adaptable to most soils; prefers fertile, moist, well-drained ground.
Temperature: Hardy roughly USDA zones 6-9; evergreen in mild winters, may drop leaves in cold ones.
Feeding: Light spring feeding encourages color and growth.
Pruning: Renew by cutting the oldest canes to the ground; cutting canes to varying heights keeps the clump full rather than leggy.
Propagation: From division, semi-hardwood cuttings, or seed.
Habitat & origin
Native to eastern Asia, including China, Japan, and India, where it grows in woodlands and mountain valleys. It has long been cultivated in Asian gardens and temples, hence the name 'sacred bamboo.'
It is widely planted in mild-temperate gardens worldwide, but has escaped cultivation and become invasive in parts of the southeastern United States, where birds spread its seeds.
Frequently asked questions
Is heavenly bamboo a real bamboo?
No. Despite the name and the bamboo-like cane stems, it is Nandina domestica, a member of the barberry family, not a true bamboo or grass.
Why isn't my nandina turning red?
Red color develops with sun exposure and cool fall and winter temperatures. Plants in shade or mild climates stay greener.
How do I keep it from getting leggy?
Cut the oldest canes to the ground and trim others to staggered heights each spring to encourage full, bushy growth from the base.
How can I identify heavenly bamboo?
Look for upright cane-like stems, lacy compound leaves with many small pointed leaflets that flush red in cold weather, white summer flower panicles, and clusters of bright red winter berries.
Heavenly Bamboo guides
In-depth guides for identifying, growing, and caring for Heavenly Bamboo.
