The Nandina Plant Guide for Homeowners

The Nandina plant is a versatile and low-maintenance option for homeowners. It's a popular choice for its ability to thrive in a variety of lighting conditions.

Nandina plants are relatively easy to care for, requiring only occasional watering and fertilization. They can tolerate some neglect, making them a great choice for busy homeowners.

To ensure your Nandina plant stays healthy, it's essential to provide it with well-draining soil and avoid overwatering. This will help prevent root rot and other issues.

Nandina plants can grow quite large, so be sure to prune them regularly to maintain a desired shape and size.

Nandina is an erect evergreen shrub that can grow up to 2 meters tall and 1.5 meters wide.

Its glossy leaves are bi- or tri-pinnately compound, with individual leaflets 4-11 cm long and 1.5-3 cm broad.

The young leaves in spring are brightly coloured pink to red before turning green, and old leaves turn red or purple again before falling.

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The shrub's inflorescences are axillary or terminally erect panicles with numerous hermaphrodite flowers, which are borne in early summer in conical clusters held well above the foliage.

The flowers are followed by bright red berries, 5-10 mm in diameter, which ripen in late autumn and often persist through the winter.

The sacred bamboo, also known as Nandina, is not actually a bamboo, but an erect evergreen shrub that grows up to 2 meters tall and 1.5 meters wide.

Its leaves are a standout feature, with a glossy appearance and a length of 50-100 cm. They're often bi- or tri-pinnately compound, with individual leaflets ranging from 4-11 cm long and 1.5-3 cm broad.

In the spring, the young leaves are a vibrant pink to red color before turning green, while older leaves turn red or purple before falling off.

The leaves are petiolate, meaning they have a stalk that attaches to the stem, and are 50-100 cm long. They're compound, with two or three pinnacles, and have leaflets that are elliptical to ovate or lanceolate in shape.

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The shrub produces inflorescences in the form of axillary or terminally erect panicles, which contain numerous hermaphrodite flowers. These flowers are borne in early summer and are held well above the foliage in conical clusters.

The flowers have several ovate-oblong sepals of a pinkish white color, and six oblong white petals, each measuring 4 by 2.5 mm.

N. domestica, also known as Nandina, has a native range that spans across Japan, China, and India.

Its introduction to North America began in 1804 as an ornamental plant, prized for its year-round interest and beauty.

Nandina was intentionally planted in gardens, including Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, for its aesthetic value.

This ornamental plant was likely chosen for its unique characteristics.

The exact circumstances of Nandina's introduction to gardens like Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden are not specified in the article, but it's clear that it was intentionally planted.

Nandina's invasive nature is a concern, and understanding its past use as an ornamental can help us appreciate the complexities of invasive species management.

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Growing and Caring for Nandina is a breeze. Nandina shrubs thrive in full sun to part shade, making them incredibly flexible in the landscape. Most types perform well with at least 4–6 hours of sunlight.

Varieties like Lemon-Lime maintain their brightest foliage color with morning sun and afternoon shade in hotter climates. You can plant them in well-drained soil and water regularly during the first growing season to help roots establish.

Nandina plants are drought-tolerant and rarely need pruning, though they respond well to occasional shaping in early spring. This means you get all the beauty with none of the maintenance headaches.

Here are some key things to keep in mind when growing Nandina:

Nandina varieties offer a range of colors and growth habits to suit different garden styles and needs.

There are many compact cultivars available, such as Southern Living's Blush Pink Nandina, which grows to a compact size and features delicate blush pink new foliage. This variety is perfect for smaller gardens, foundation plantings, and decorative containers.

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Some popular nandina varieties include Blush, Fire Power, and Gulfstream, each with its own unique characteristics, such as red new growth in spring and autumn, or diamond-shaped leaves that change color with the seasons. These varieties can add dynamic visual interest to your landscape.

Here are some popular nandina varieties and their characteristics:

These varieties can be used in a variety of ways, including foundation plantings, hedges, borders, and container gardens.

Our collection of nandina varieties offers something for every garden style and need. Each one is selected for its exceptional garden performance, stunning colors, and suitability for Southern landscapes.

The Southern Living Obsession Nandina is a standout choice, known for its vivid, bright red new growth that transitions beautifully to deep green. This nandina shrub creates dynamic visual interest throughout the seasons and is ideal for borders, hedges, or as a striking garden accent.

The Southern Living Blush Pink Nandina adds a gentle yet captivating contrast to your landscape with its delicate blush pink new foliage that matures to soft green. Its compact size makes it perfect for smaller gardens, foundation plantings, and decorative containers.

The Southern Living Lemon Lime Nandina is a vibrant and deer-resistant option, featuring lime-green foliage that brightens landscapes year-round. Compact in size, it's ideal for borders, hedges, or as a colorful accent plant.

The Southern Living Flirt Nandina features deep red foliage with a compact growth habit, making it perfect for small garden spaces, container plantings, or as an eye-catching border.

Here are some of the popular cultivars of nandina:

Nandina tolerates full sun to deep shade, and expect more vibrant colors in fall and winter when sited in sunny locations.

If you're looking to bring home a beautiful nandina plant, you're in luck because Southern Living Plant Collection makes it easy to buy nandina plants at garden centers and nurseries throughout the South.

You can explore their selection online or find a local retailer to discover their exceptional nandina varieties firsthand.

Their nandina shrubs are available at garden centers and nurseries throughout the South, making it convenient for you to find one near you.

Southern Living Plant Collection offers a wide range of nandina varieties, including the bold Obsession Nandina and the delicate Blush Pink Nandina.

Their selection provides endless possibilities for creating captivating garden designs.

Their nandina shrubs are truly stunning and can bring unmatched beauty and color to your landscape.

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Nandina can be a problem in certain regions. It's considered invasive in Texas, North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida, and its purchase or cultivation is discouraged in the southeastern United States.

The plant can outcompete native species and form dense thickets, displacing native plant communities. This can be a concern in conservation areas, woodlands, and floodplains.

In Texas, Nandina is grown extensively due to its dry conditions tolerance, but fruiting varieties are considered invasive. This is primarily due to birds spreading seeds into natural areas.

Nandina berries contain the toxin cyanide, which can cause bird mortality. Cedar waxwings, northern mockingbirds, and American robins are susceptible to poisoning due to consuming large quantities of fruit in a single feeding.

Some bird species will gorge on Nandina berries when other food sources are unavailable. This can be a problem, especially for cedar waxwings, which are most susceptible to poisoning.

Nandina has no serious disease or insect problems, but some dwarf selections are infected with a nonlethal virus. This virus causes cupping, crinkling, and twisting of leaves and may slow growth and reduce height.

Birds can spread Nandina seeds into natural areas, allowing the plant to proliferate and crowd out native species. This can be a significant concern in regions where Nandina is invasive.

Here are some Nandina cultivars that are considered invasive in certain regions:

If you're dealing with nandina, it's essential to control its spread to prevent harm to local birds and the environment. Prevention is the best option, so choose sterile cultivars like 'Firepower' and 'Blush Pink' if you must plant nandina.

Removing the berries is crucial, as they can spread and poison birds. Remove and bag the berries and dispose of them in the trash, not the compost, before they can cause harm.

Smaller nandina shrubs can be hand-pulled, but larger ones will require a shovel for mechanical removal. Be sure to remove the roots entirely to prevent regrowth.

Chemical control may be necessary for larger plants or for those that are difficult to remove mechanically. Use a 1% solution of tripoclyr with 0.25% surfactant, or foliar applications of glyphosate, making sure to follow all labels and consult with your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office if needed.

Timing is everything when it comes to removing nandina. It's best to do it before berries form, and follow-up treatments may be needed to deplete the soil seed bank.

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If you're looking for plants that provide year-round interest like nandina, consider planting different cultivars of native winterberry holly (Ilex verticillata), which have bright berries in winter.

Winterberry holly berries are a favorite snack for birds, making them a great alternative to nandina.

Another option is the evergreen shrub, yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria), which can also be used to make tea.

Yaupon holly is a great choice for those looking for a non-toxic alternative to nandina.

Broaden your view: Nandina Shrub with Red Berries