Nandina Species, Chinese Sacred Bamboo, Common Nandina, Heavenly Bamboo

On Feb 19, 2020, HermesIV from Austin, TX wrote:

There are pros and cons to growing this species.

This plant was domesticated over thousands of years from its’ wild relative.

They were grown as small (controlled) ornamental house plants. When kept in pots or controlled planter boxes, they can make a great addition to your home or garden.

About its’ invasiveness: Any plant is invasive when put in the right environment.
This one can produce thousands of seeds, which fall from the plant and/or are dispersed by birds and animals, for many miles. In areas where natural pollinators are prominent, many of these seeds can be fertile.

It is considered a nuisance, because it pops up where it is unwanted. But otherwise does not cause harm to the environment.

There a... read morere notions that the toxins in the plant are deadly to birds and animals. While true in large quantities, mild consumption of the berries is harmless to most wildlife.
(Humans are not adapted to eating most red berries and doing so will most likely result in mild poisoning, stomach ache, fever, nausea, or vomiting)

In known cases of bird or wild animal poisoning from this plant, other mitigating factors were involved. It has been found that when food becomes scarce, birds and animals may overindulge in the tempting red berries. It can be argued that, with no other available food sources nearby, these animals would have otherwise met similar fates.

There is no real harm from planting it in your yard, uncontrolled, however, it may result in an increase of the species in your local area.

This species is considered ‘stably aggressive’.
This means that the plant naturally competes with other species, and can help balance the environment by preventing other species of plant from propagating unchecked. So in many ways, introducing this plant is beneficial to the environment.

In Ga. for example, where the plant is known to be well established: it competes with kudzu and Asian wisteria, each of which grow over a foot per day and have taken over large portions of the state.

Hope this information was helpful.

On Apr 20, 2018, graffiacane from Seattle, WA wrote:

Responding to Sempervirens206's comment. Nandina domestica is not a noxious weed in the Pacific Northwest. It is in Arkansas and the Southeast, which is the audience for the article you posted. It's also worth noting that the specific birds dead of cyanide poisoning with Nandina berries in their stomachs were in Georgia, where Nandina is a widespread weed. They had vast quantities of berries to gorge on. There is a useful article on the University of Washington's Elisabeth C Miller Library Gardening Answers Knowledgebase about this item in particular: [[email protected]]

One could argue it is overused, but it remains a tough, attractive, adaptable p... read morelant which requires little care and little to no summer irrigation once established—all considerations which result in it being so widely used. My opinion is that a particular plant's use in parking lot and street-side plantings does not make it by default a plant without merit for a garden.

Japanese barberry is also not invasive in the Pacific Northwest. It's important to remember that the US is a big and climatically diverse place, and what is invasive in one state is not necessarily in another (or in our case, it often varies even from one side of the state to the other). Otherwise folks might be avoiding or tearing out perfectly decent garden plants based upon false conceptions of their invasiveness in their region.

On Mar 4, 2017, ekelund from Bradford, NH wrote:

http://www.decaturish.com/2017/03/invasive-bushes-in-decatur...

Whenever I see this plant for sale I post this article.

On Aug 30, 2015, Gardener21 from Randallstown, MD wrote:

I live near Baltimore Maryland. I have had one of these plants for about 25 years. It has been extremely well-behaved, staying in its original clump, with no suckering outside the clump and not a single seedling. It is one of the few things I have found that is truly tolerant of dry shade. I'm very glad to have it.

On Apr 26, 2015, coriaceous from ROSLINDALE, MA wrote:

This species has been named a category 1 invasive species by Florida's Exotic Pest Plant Council.

It's made the US Forest Service's Weed of the Week: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/fhp/invasive_plants/weeds/nandina.pd...

And it's also made the list at Texasinvasives, maintained by a consortium of public agencies: http://www.texasinvasives.org/plant_database/detail.php?symb...

According to BONAP, this species has naturalized in Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and all states further south and east, as well as in Ca... read morelifornia---15 states in all.

It did not survive for me here in Boston Z6a.

There are cultivars that do not fruit significantly.

On Aug 26, 2014, kikuyu from Adelaide,
Australia wrote:

Absolute nightmare. For the sake of the next owners (and/or your future self), please don't plant! I'm trying to grow vegetables in a yard full of kikuyu grass and this junk! As stated, it pops up everywhere. When chopping it, I dropped an inch-long piece of stem on the ground... a few weeks later, it had become a plant!!

I really want to espalier fruit trees where it currently resides, but have no idea how I'm going to remove it. With herniated discs, I can't dig too much so am beyond frustrated.

On May 24, 2014, obiehome88 from Lansdale, PA wrote:

I live in Pa near Phila. and love the Heavenly Bamboo (Nandina). I have 3 in my yard and will get another. I have not experienced them being invasive as I have had 2 for over 6 years now. They are a real accent plant in my yard.The fall berries are exquisite and easy to trim.I do not know why others see them as invasive so perhaps it is my area that is not.

On Oct 15, 2013, Kelliq81 from Jonesboro, AR (Zone 7b) wrote:

We are in Jonesboro AR - zone 7B - have them along the fence line to block neighbors stuff - LOVE them. Think we are moving and we're going to dig every other one out to take to new house - that's how much we like them. The foliage and the berries are a winner!

On Jun 7, 2013, originalfatboy from Cabot, AR wrote:

No problems here.
I would welcome more aggressiveness, as they are planted as a screen between me and Sanford & Son next door.
Arkansas birds apparently don't care for the berries, which I pick off all I can find anyway, to direct the energy into foliage.

On Dec 24, 2012, leafnobudbehind from Chapel Hill, NC wrote:

A landscapers dream but a conservationists nightmare, N. domestica needs next to no human help to thrive and multiply. This habit of rapid growth and propagation, however, causes this plant to be a very aggressive invasive. The woody roots and runners are near impossible to pull out so make sure you really want this for a long time before you plant it. The bizarre texture of the stems and leaves give away the exotic origin of the plant, and unless very diligently pruned and managed this plant looks very tacky and, as one user said, "ho-hum", because of it's amorphous tree-like growth habit. In a typical day, I'll see it planted in at least 3 separate instances - the calling card of lazy landscapers who want a quick and easy shrub to plant that will survive almost anything. Some cultivars c... read morean be less invasive and have better color, but you're better off just using a hardy native like a viburnum. When these escape into the wild (not IF - birds love the berries and that's an effective dispersal technique), they'll grow into dense stands and crowd out native vegetation.

Final thoughts: this plant had it's benefits, but now it is overplanted and just looks cheap and tacky in otherwise beautiful landscapes. Do our native plants a favor and use natives instead of Nandina domestica!

On Mar 5, 2012, JMSWilson from East Tennessee 6b/7a, TN wrote:

No spreading by root or seed (only one plant seeded in 25 years!) in the fields, forests, and mountains of East Tennessee. I went out just now and checked the beautiful red berries on my plants. Most of the seed doesn't look viable. Must be the weather here in zone 6b/7a.
Nandina looks good both in formal settings with boxwoods, and in informal settings with tall winter grasses and yucca. I use the evergreen Berkmans arborvitae (very slowly growing to 10ft. in 20 years) and Nandina (to 6ft.) to "tie together" the formal and informal areas around my house. Trim a Nandina stem by 1/3 and another by 2/3rds to make a fuller bush-especially nice behind a yucca (almost overhanging it a little). Don't trim the Nandina behind the Berkmans arborvitae or next to the boxwoods, however...the le... read moreggy bamboo-like stems give great contrast. Use New Guinea impatiens at their feet in summer for a fuller, different look.
Nandina also look great right next to the house (in shady, drier areas) where nothing else seems to want to grow. I've got a tall one hiding the electrical meter by the gutter on the southeast side of the house. In summer the leaves are green, but in winter shades of green with red...with bright red berries that last all winter! Pretty and tough-what wonderful plants! I could use some more-anyone in Cosby, Newport or Knoxville TN giving any away? I've transplanted 4ft. Nandinas before, and can do it again! (Hint, Hint! :D)

On Jan 24, 2012, phoenixfarmer from Phoenix, AZ wrote:

I want to plant this in the area of my chickens. I understand that this plant has poisonous parts (berries?) Birds eat the berries, right? Any anticipated problem with the chickens?

On Oct 4, 2011, virginiarose from Portsmouth, VA (Zone 8a) wrote:

This is the most beautiful shrub I own and they first came to my attention at a house we rented about 10 years ago. Two were at the front near gutter drain and there were seedlings and I easily pulled them up. Here at my own house I have not had that problem because I have mulch around them and I know nothing about the roots being a problem because I have dug up a few and I did not think anything of it, just another bush. If you live south of Virginia you might want to reconsider, but as for me I love this shrub and recently planted two more. Great winter color and neo orange berries.

On Apr 14, 2011, Tresgen from Seagraves, TX (Zone 8a) wrote:

I have a picture or two of my mother standing in front of their house, which she had sent to my father when he was stationed in the Pacific Theater during WWII. Behind her are some Nandinas. It's all these years later, I've inherited the house, and the Nandinas are still providing lovely foliage and beautiful berries. They're especially lovely in the rare snow we get here in Texas. I've never found them to be invasive; but can vouch for their extraordinary hardiness. I think of them as my "heirloom Nandinas". :)

On Nov 21, 2010, merman1122 from Phoenix, AZ wrote:

Almost impossible to get rid of. Here in the Arizona low desert it proliferates even in full shade. Grows without watering it for months. Roots burrow into and under foundations causing damage. Only positive is it does turn a nice shade of red in the fall. I also have regular bamboo growing and this is nothing like bamboo which is easy to get rid of by not watering. Don't be fooled by the name. Choose something else.

On Sep 15, 2010, tvksi from Paris, TX (Zone 7b) wrote:

Happy in Paris with Nandina. I think there are 5 tall ones on the south, length of house with taylored solid evergreen ground cover. They are tall, bare multi-trunked spreading out at the top and look quite atractive. We/I trim them up every few years and hardly ever water them. They are so independant I forget they are there for months at a time. None of my neighbors have any and they have been here since the house was built about 35 years ago.

They sucker a lot and I imagine they all have heck-of-a root system, I'll be leaving them there and just enjoy them. Since i am now aware of their agressivness, Iwill try to remember to remove blossoms before they go to seed.

On May 1, 2010, Jackie5_0 from Summerville, SC wrote:

PURE EVIL!!!!! Super invasive!!!
The previous owners of my house planted this along the fence toward one side of my backyard, then they abandoned the house for 5 years. By the time I bought the house it had spread ALL OVER. It had made its way to the other side of the backyard, and into my neighbors yards. It actually started moving my heat pump and broke up a brick and mortar garden (all of this was on the far side opposite where it was originally planted)
It is a nightmare to get rid of!! I have probably spent more the 50 hours pulling it all out. The thick, deep root nests were worse then what I had seen with bamboo. An axe would bounce rite off them barley doing any damage.
I still have bits of it popping up, and even worse some of it must have gotten loose while ... read moreI was pulling it out and now it's been popping up in my front yard. No weed/brush/vine killer has effected it. I had even tried root rot which did nothing.
A lot of sites and garden centers dont say anything to indicate how invasive this plant is, they really need to give people a warning.

On Apr 19, 2010, jktx from Austin, TX wrote:

INVASIVE exotic. Unfortunately, this has been a very popular plant in the nurseries in central Texas because this plant grows well here and is evergreen. The problem is that it grows too well and, aside from being over-used, is extremely invasive. PLEASE DO NOT use this plant. IT IS SPREADING throughout the woods in our area. Please choose a noninvasive exotic or--better yet--a native plant instead.

On Jun 11, 2009, lehua_mc from Portland, OR (Zone 8b) wrote:

Wow, for all our Oregonian concern about invasive plants, the Nandina is not a hot topic at garden parties. It's more of a must have for our dark shady under canopy areas. While there are some very large mature plants in some gardens (yards), they function as a shrub should, with an average whack back when the mood strikes. For its evergreen, open, lacy and changing nature, I still think there are regions where it can be enjoyed!

On Nov 17, 2008, Malevettech from Columbus, OH wrote:

I have done alot of research on this plant. I know about its invasive habits. I have had it for 4 years in my garden. It is not evergreen in this zone (5B), and may die back to the ground. Mine is about four feet tall now and staying in a nice tight clump. It is a very nice plant for late fall color. It may keep its leaves untill january depending on the weather. I have only had it die back all the way once. I was not able to find a source in my area, but on a vacation to WV I found it a at home depot. I have been very happy with it and woud like more, but will not be in WV again for a long time.

On Oct 6, 2007, Mombird from Dana Point, CA (Zone 10b) wrote:

I am so surprised at the number of negatives on this plant. It almost sounds like we're talking about 2 entirely different plants. Here in So. Ca, I have grown this plant in 3 different homes for nearly 30 years and I love it! Especially some of the newer cultivars like gulf stream and Sienna sunrise, which are full and lush all the way to the ground, with beautiful shades of orange and red. I have never SEEN a runner, nor
a plant over 4 1/2 feet tall. Perhaps it's our lack of extreme humidity and heat, I don't know.

On Jul 30, 2007, renatelynne from Boerne new zone 30, TX (Zone 8b) wrote:

Hard to get rid of once you have it. Grows like a weed. Completely invasive in Texas

On Jun 2, 2007, chantilly from Hamilton, TX wrote:

Although I have to agree that this plant can and in some ways does look quite pretty (at times), it's a major thorn in my side right now. We just bought our house in January, and nandina is the shrub of choice in the flower beds on both sides. Trouble is, it's so huge and overgrown in both areas that I don't know what to do with it. I'd like to plant other things in at least some of those flower beds, but so far I've had no luck getting rid of what I've got. I read all the suggestions for getting rid of the runners and such, but does anyone have any input on getting rid of the mature plants? The root system is akin to a small tree, and I simply don't know how to get enough of it up to kill the darned things.

On Nov 23, 2006, DebinSC from Georgetown, SC (Zone 8a) wrote:

I've always had these in my yard. Yes, they tend to multiply, but can be controlled without alot of effort, at least that has been my experience. If they are too tall or leggy, you can hard prune in very early spring (Jan. is good). Seems to work best in 1/3s, i.e. a 3rd of the shoots tallest, a 3rd medium, a 3rd short.

On May 24, 2006, CarolesJungle from Naples, FL (Zone 10a) wrote:

This plant always looks beautiful in my yard. It can be trimmed to fit some weird little spot where you cannot find just the right plant to grow. It sends out a few runners but easy to cut off if you do not want the the new plants.

On Mar 30, 2006, gooley from Hawthorne, FL (Zone 8b) wrote:

It looks like a bamboo, sort of. It isn't. It's pretty. It's planted almost everywhere I have been here in Florida. The Gainesville Regional Airport, 15 miles from me, has (last I checked...I hope they've gotten rid of it) it as a major feature of its landscaping. I've seen it in big decorative pots in Stuart, which has a nearly frost-free climate and a mess of other invasive plants already (Australian-pine, melaleuca, Brazilian pepper...). It's become a CLICHE' plant, and the birds defecate out its seeds where they like (the red berries seem to be popular bird food), so it's become an invasive pest as well. Heck, you're better off planting a REAL bamboo: not all varieties spread invasively by roots (whereas this plant can), and real bamboos very rarely set seed (and usually die aft... read moreer they do). Just say no to N. domestica.

On Jan 13, 2006, Pashta from Moncks Corner, SC (Zone 8b) wrote:

I have not experienced the wide spreading habits of this plant, but I do know it grows very quickly in the sun, and becomes unkempt very quickly. Im sure when its well trimmed it can look nice, but mostly I just think its unwieldy and ugy. Im going to prune the snot out of mine this spring and see what happens. There are several around the house, all of which are small disaster areas. I dont want to kill it, becase I hate killing any plants in general, but I really dont like it, and its taking up prime real estate in the yard. Hopefully pruning it hard will let it grow out a little better, or at least attain a better shape.

On Nov 22, 2005, MotherNature4 from Bartow, FL (Zone 9a) wrote:

Yes, it is beautiful, but please don't plant it in central or southern Florida. It tries to take over the world. I should have added that you don't need to plant the seeds. The birds will take care of that for you. Also, they sucker from the roots and spread all over the place.

On Aug 20, 2005, GFT from Biloxi, MS wrote:

One of the older ornamental shrubs, Nandina is frequently seen in the deep south. The elegant, delicately formed stems and foliage belie the plant's hardiness; beyond a reasonable amount of light and water and the occasional pruning for shape it requires very little care at all. You should, however, think of this as permanent planting. Although it can be eliminated, you will find that it takes a concerted effort over the course of several years.

There has been considerable comment about the invasive nature of the plant. My mother had nadina in her yard from the 1950s until her death in the 1980s; I have had it in my own yard for well over ten years. Circumstances differ, of course, but I have never found it in the least invasive. It can, however, grow to be a very large... read more plant; unless you enjoy frequent prunings I would not recommend placing it under windows, etc., for given enough sun and water it can very quickly grow quite tall and block the window entirely--as it tended to do outside my mother's kitchen.

On Mar 10, 2005, jestelleoan from Tyler, TX (Zone 8a) wrote:

I live in The Piny Woods of East Texas and I have had this plant for 20 Years. It does not send out roots but the birds love it so it is spread out into my woods. But I would not call it invasive. It pulls up very easily and you can replant it if you want more. It is beautiful in sun and shade, it is evergreen and the berrys are wonderful at Christmas. Please plant it where it can grow to its full height and you will be very happy with it. They grow best in the woods where they are left alone. Joan

On Dec 24, 2004, susan_simpson from Vincennes, IN (Zone 6a) wrote:

I bought several of these "clearance-type" a year ago. Thought they were dying, looked really bad the first year, but this year they are beautiful, green as well as red leaves, the shape of the plant is rounded and "full". So far I am very happy with them and hope they survive the 10" snow we just had that has completely covered them (outside my backporch door). That snow is really unfamiliar in the area, I might add.....the Wabash River in southern Indiana.

On Aug 14, 2004, pokerboy from Canberra,
Australia (Zone 8b) wrote:

A great foliage plant. It's foliage goes redder in winter. It's a very drought tolerant plant. Very attractive. Thrives in Full sun. I cut back the canes more than 3 years old on my 8 plants and then the reshoot, stronger, healthier looking plants. It's a very tough plant. pokerboy.

On Mar 13, 2004, hotlanta from Lilburn, GA (Zone 8a) wrote:

I like nandina very much. The berries in the fall and winter (and well into spring), and the leaves, add much needed interest to the bland gardens. They do self-propagate very easily, but with diligence, one can keep nandina under control. I transplant it to areas that need "something" and it fills in perfectly. Nandina is very drought tolerant. In fact, I never think about having to provide water to them during the usual hot and dry Atlanta summers.

On Jul 31, 2003, suncatcheracres from Old Town, FL wrote:

Every home I have ever lived in in the Coastal South has had some type of nandina in the yard, and I have never, ever, noticed that it was invasive. It may be that our plants were mostly in the shade, or in the back of borders, where they were never much fertilized, or that they never had any water other than rainwater. Or that the soil was quite sandy. But whatever the conditions, year in and year out, this was always an attractive, airy looking, evergreen shrub with beautiful fall and early winter red berries my mother cut for Christmas decorations.

The ones from my childhood grew quite tall and made attractive screens from too close neighbors in New Orleans, but through the years I've noticed many new, smaller, "dwarf" varieties with more intense colors. And I alway... read mores thought the plant lived up to its common name of "Heavenly Bamboo." I've also noticed that nandina is planted a lot in rental houses with small yards, as a no-care, evergreen, indestructable, general purpose landscape shrub, and I am very surprised to find this plant getting such a bad reputation now.

So perhaps it still has a place in a difficult situation, say a small strip between a concrete driveway and a fence, or in a somewhat shady location, where it is difficult to grow most plants, and it would provide a green, softening efffect. Or in the very back of borders, under shade trees, without a lot of fertilizer or water. I just can't imagine a Coastal South landscape without a place, somewhere, for this beautiful plant.

On Jul 30, 2003, htop from San Antonio, TX (Zone 8b) wrote:

This variety spreads through underground runners and seeds. There is a variety that is noninvasive, but I do not know the variety's name at this time. I wished I had known this fact before planting this variety.

I heavily mulch around the plants and pull any new sprouts from seeds before they have time to root deeply. Any unwanted sprouts from runners must be pulled up hard enough to locate the point at which the runner has originated at the base of the "mother" plant. Then, it can be chopped off (I use a long nose shovel or a heavy duty pruning shear). Every year, I cut off the berry clumps before they mature and fall to discourage seed sprouting. Stray seed sprouts can be killed with Roundup. Stray runner sprouts can be killed with Roundup if the runner has been sev... read moreered from the "mother" plant. Any manner of removal of new sprouts is difficult when they are intermingled with other plantings. These are beautiful plants, but this variety takes a lot of work to keep them from taking over the beds.

The berries can be mildy toxic to cats and other grazing animals.

On Jan 25, 2003, jkom51 from Oakland, CA (Zone 9b) wrote:

Be certain you really, really like this plant and want to keep it forever. It is extremely difficult to get rid of, as even the smallest piece of root will resprout.

On Aug 31, 2001, Terry from Murfreesboro, TN (Zone 7a) wrote:

A relative of the Barberries, the common name of Nandina domestica is in reference to its delicate, bamboo-like foliage. It starts out maroon, turning green as it matures. Inconspicuous flowers in early summer turn to red berries that remain on the plant through the fall and winter months.

In the right setting, it's a lovely shrub. In a mixed border, or in the wrong setting, it's invasive and aggressive, spreading by underground runners and getting too tall too quickly. We've removed several LARGE shrubs that were planted in front of windows, and effectively blocked all light coming into the room; two years later, we're still finding new sprouts that keep popping up.