This shrub with bamboo-like leaves is tough and easy-to-grow but can also be invasive so plant it with caution.
Heavenly bamboo is part of the barberry family of plants and not actually bamboo.
Heavenly bamboo has softly textured, colorful foliage.
Credit: David Goldberg
The real show begins in the fall, though.
The tough-as-nails shrub thrives in a variety of conditions but weigh the pros and cons before planting heavenly bamboo.
The plant is toxic to humans, pets,and birds.
This evergreen shrub is listed as an invasive species in several southern states.
The shrub is also shade-tolerant, which means it is capable of invading forests.
The tough, vigorous roots make it difficult to eradicate once you’ve planted it.
Any root segment left behind after the shrub is removed can become a full-blown shrub.
How and When to Plant Heavenly Bamboo
Plant heavenly bamboo in the spring or fall.
Dig a hole at least twice the size of the root ball and just as deep.
Place the shrub in the hole and gently spread out the roots.
Backfill with the original soil so that the top of the root ball is flush with the soil.
Tamp down the soil and water it well.
Space plants 2 to 5 feet apart, depending on the intended landscape use.
Mass plantings, hedge plants, and compact varieties can be spaced 2 to 3 feet apart.
Light
The shrub develops the best foliage color in full sun but also tolerated partial shade.
Although it does best with consistent watering, heavenly bamboo can tolerate some drought after it’s established.
Temperature and Humidity
As an evergreen shrub that is native to China and Japan.
heavenly bamboo is best grown in a warm but not hot climate.
The shrub grows suckers from its base with should be removed regularly.
Pests and Problems
The plant is often infected witho.
Bacterial leaf scorch and plant viruses such as mosaic virus can also occur.
Pests that attack heavenly bamboo include scale, mealybugs, and whiteflies.
Remove the lower leaves and dip the cut end in rooting hormone.
Fill a small pot with damp potting soil and make a hole in the soil with a pencil.
Insert the cut end about 1 inch into the soil.
Place the pot in a bright location but out of direct sunlight.
Keep the soil evenly moist.
It doesn’t produce much fruit.
‘Fire Power’
Nandina domestica’Fire Power' is also a variety that produce little or no fruit.
The fine-textured leaves on the 2-foot-tall mounded shrubs turn deep red in winter.
In cold weather, the leaves turn burgundy or red.
It has a mature height of 5 feet and produces little to no fruit.
This is a compact shrub that only reaches 3 feet in height.
Its berry production is minimal to non-existent.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are several non-invasive alternatives to heavenly bamboo.
Native shrubs with pretty berries include red chokeberry, winterberry, and inkberry.
It depends on the location.
The shrub may drop its leaves in colder climates.
Updated by Nadia Hassani
“Nandina domestica.
“North Caroline State University Cooperative Extension.
“Heavenly Bamboo.”
“Nandina Berries Kill Birds.
