Nandina domestica
Common: Heavenly bamboo
Family: Berberidaceae
Zones: All zones
Light: Needs some shade in low desert and hot valley regions
Soil: Average garden soil
Water: Tolerates wide range of irrigation from ample to moderate to occasional deep soakings.
Temperature: Loses leaves at 10 F, killed to ground at 5 F, but usually recovers quickly.
Most useful for light, airy vertical effects as well as narrow, restricted areas; good for hedge or screen, as tub plant, for bonsai.
Oriental effect. Decorative hedge. Lightly branched, cane-like stems and delicate, fine-textured foliage. Most retain slender form, and rarely get more than 4 ft. wide.
Slow to moderate growth to 6-8 ft. Leaves intricately divided into many 1-2 inch pointed, oval leaflets, creating lacy pattern. Turns reddish or bronze in winter sun. Semi-deciduous.
Flowers pinkish white or creamy white in loose, erect, 6-12 inch clusters at branch ends, late spring or summer. Long lasting, shiny red berries follow if plants are grouped. Single plants rarely fruit heavily. Belongs to bayberry family but is reminiscent of bamboo. Highly resistant to pests, diseases and most soil problems.