Nandina domestica

Common Name:
Sacred Bamboo

Description:
Nandina domestica, commonly known as Sacred Bamboo, is a highly ornamental, evergreen shrub valued for its fine foliage, seasonal colour shifts, and low-maintenance nature. Despite the name, it is not a true bamboo but gets its name from its slender, upright canes and delicate, fern-like leaves. Throughout the year, its foliage transforms from fresh spring green to rich summer tones, before turning brilliant shades of red, burgundy, and copper in autumn and winter — especially in Melbourne's cool seasons. In late spring to early summer, Nandina domestica produces soft white flower sprays, which are followed by clusters of bright red berries in autumn, adding further ornamental interest. Thriving in full sun to part shade, it is hardy, drought-tolerant once established, and adapts well to a variety of soil types. Sacred Bamboo is a popular choice for feature planting, borders, low hedging, and containers, with minimal pruning required to maintain its natural shape. It's particularly useful in formal and Japanese-inspired gardens for its year-round colour and tidy growth habit.

Form:
*Shrub - Medium
*Shrub - Small

Mature Size:
*Height: 1–2 metres
*Width: 60 cm – 1 metre

Aspect:
*Full Sun
*Part Shade
*Full Shade

Flowering:
*Flowers in Late Spring
*Flowers in Early Summer

Flower Colour:
*White

Key Attributes:
*Suitable for Pots
*Drought Tolerant
*Frost Tolerant
*Low Maintenance
*Bird Attracting (for berries)
*Perennial
*Suitable for Hedging
*Suitable for Topiary
*Seasonal Foliage Colour
*Heat Tolerant

Toxicity:
*Toxic to pets (especially cats and dogs if berries are ingested)
*Toxic to birds in large quantities (berries contain cyanogenic compounds)
*Low toxicity to humans if berries are ingested

Companion Plants:
*Liriope muscari
*Camellia sasanqua
*Ophiopogon japonicus (Mondo Grass)
*Acer palmatum (Japanese Maple)
*Dianella caerulea