Nandina - Sacred Bamboo

Nandina domestica

Sacred bamboo

Common Name: Heavenly bamboo or Sacred bambooLatin Name: Nandina domesticaSoil: Any moist but well drainedPosition: Full sun or partial shadeHardiness: Half hardy- requires shelter Flowering Period: SummerFlowering Colour: WhiteEventual Height/Spread after 20 years: 1.5m/ 1.5mThe Nandina domestica is a lovely little evergreen shrub. This Chinese native features green pinnate leaves which are purple-red when young, and turn purple-red again in the winter. In summer, panicles of small white flowers appear; these develop into glossy red berries in autumn. This shrub works well when planted in a flower bed or as part of a border. Ensure that you plant this shrub in a fairly sunny, yet sheltered spot, as it needs protections from harsh winter conditions.

Nandina domestica Pygmaea

Heavenly Bamboo

Common Name: Heavenly Bamboo Latin Name: Nandina domestica 'Pygmaea' Soil: Any moist but well drained Position: Full sun or light shade Hardiness: Half hardy - requires shelter  Flowering period colour: Summer/ White Eventual Height/Spread: 0.6m/0.5m Special feature: A colourful shrub that maintains a wonderfully compact form. The 'Pygmaea' is a shrub that certainly packs a visual punch: it features pinnate green leaves that are red when young, so you get two leaf colours on the same plant throughout the growing season. In summer you also get panicles of small, white flowers and these later become glossy red berries in autumn. The autumn leaf colour is also something to note, as the leaves turn to blistering shades of red. It is a more compact version of the popular 'Nandina domestica' and it is therefore suitable for a small space. Try it in a pot on a sunny patio. You will get the best leaf colour when this is planted in full sun, or very light shade. 

Nandina domestica Twilight

Sacred bamboo

Common Name: Heavenly bamboo or Sacred bamboo Latin Name: Nandina domestica ‘Twilight’ Soil: Any moist but well drained Position: Full sun or partial shade Hardiness: Half hardy - requires shelter  Flowering Period: Summer Flowering Colour: White Eventual Height/Spread: 1.2m/ 0.5m. Special feature: Variegated leaves and different leaf colours on the same plant. If you want a colourful evergreen that won’t take up too much space then the 'Twilight is a wonderful choice. This heavenly bamboo has so much to offer, but its foliage is certainly its best feature: new leaves emerge coppery-pink and mature to mid-green, but with prominent splashes of creamy yellow; new shoots continue to come through over spring and summer, so you get so much foliage variety on one small plant. Aside from the variegated leaves, summer also sees the arrival of sprays of small, white flowers, which are popular with insects. The 'Twilight' maintains an upright, bushy habit and is highly versatile, so it works well in a pot, or in a bed or border. Plant it alongside another colourful evergreen, like the Nandina domestica 'Obsession', for year-round vibrancy.