Sacred Bamboo

The Sacred Bamboo or Heavenly Bamboo isn’t a bamboo at all – the danger of common names – but a flowering evergreen shrub that is actually in the family Berberidaceae, which includes Berberis and Mahonia..

Nandina is what is referred to as a ‘Monotypic’ genus which looks, as the image shows very much like a Bamboo, because of the long erect unbranched stems that it produces. It likes a sheltered position, but in full sun if possible.

At the advent of Spring, the new growth has a red tinge to it, much as Photinia and Pieris does.

Large panicles of white flowers then appear on the end of branch during the course of the Summer months, followed by bunches of Red Berries.

Then as Winter comes along, bearing in mind that this is an evergreen shrub, the foliage can change to red. It is Hardy in all but the coldest locations. Given the relationship with Berberis and Mahonia, some of which also change colour in Autumn.

Heavenly Bamboo

Latin Name – Nandina domestica.