Growing the Tuscan Flame Nandina

Size and Appearance

The Tuscan Flame Nandina is a compact evergreen shrub growing 3 to 4 feet tall and 2 or 3 feet wide. It sends up a small number of thick, upright stems from the ground, but these are densely covered in foliage, so they aren’t really visible. Although the leaves are actually large, that doesn’t show, because they are divided into many small leaflets, each between 1 and 2 inches long, creating a look somewhere between bamboo and ferns. This variety has more leaflets, and smaller ones, than other types of Nandina, giving it a softer, more ferny look. New leaves are bright scarlet red, and this color is held, with only a little darkening, not only through summer, but through winter too, until past the development of the next year’s leaves. So the plant is continuously red, while older, lower leaves become yellow-green in time. The effect is bright, colorful and exciting.

This variety flowers in spring too, with clusters of small whitish blooms, followed by berries that turn from green to red in late fall. However they are carried so low inside the foliage that they aren’t really noticeable.

Using the Tuscan Flame Nandina in Your Garden

Adaptable to many garden conditions, the Tuscan Flame Nandina is ideal for the front of shrub beds or for planting along paths and driveways. Use it in semi-shaded areas, by water, or as an isolated specimen in an Asian-themed garden. In the hottest zones it can be grown as a container plant, ideal for a porch, up a set of stairs, or on a shady terrace.

Hardiness

The Tuscan Flame Nandina is completely hardy and evergreen in zones 8, 9 and 10. In zones 6 and 7 it may lose a few of the older leaves during winter, and in cold parts of zone 6 it may suffer some winter damage to the stems, but soon re-sprouts from the base. There it will stay only a foot or two in height.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

Don’t worry too much about where you place the Tuscan Flame Nandina, because it is very adaptable to different light levels. It grows well in full sun, with very intense coloring, but it does need a good water supply in positions like that. It grows most easily in semi-shade, with some morning sun and afternoon shade, in dappled shade beneath trees, or in the shade on the north side of a wall. It stays bushy in shade, but may soften in color if it is too dark.

Maintenance and Pruning

Talk about easy! This plant is one of the easiest to grow – just plant it, water a little for the first season, and they forget it. It almost never has pest or disease problems, and it needs no trimming. A spring mulch with something organic, like rotted leaves or compost, will conserve moisture and provide sufficient nutrients.

History and Origin of the Tuscan Flame Nandina

The sacred bamboo, Nandina domestica, grows wild through China, Japan and India. Wild plants have green leaves and can grow to 8 feet tall, with noticeable thick stems. It is often planted around temples, and with the way its leaves look, we can understand its common name. It was first introduced into America around the middle of the 19th century. The variety called Tuscan Flame was discovered in 2000 by Robert Tancredi. He has a small nursery in Salem, Oregon, and he noticed a unique branch sprouting from one of a group of plants he was growing. It was the compact look and the bright red leaves that caught his eye. He tested it and realized it was something new and valuable to gardeners. He patented it in 2011, and distributed it with the help of PlantHaven International Inc. who work with small plant breeders to market their successes.

Buying the Tuscan Flame Nandina at the Tree Center

The Tuscan Flame Nandina is a great addition to our range of Nandina, and ideal when you want bright color and small to medium height. The ferny look is unique and beautiful. Although they are not especially visible, this variety does produce some seeds. In some areas, such as South Florida, it is considered invasive, so you might want to look at some of our different varieties that don’t produce any seeds. They are completely safe to grow everywhere. In most places it is fine to grow, so order your Tuscan Flame plants right away, while we still have a supply available.

Growing the Blush Pink Nandina

Size and Appearance

The Blush Pink Nandina is a bushy evergreen shrub with numerous upright stems rising from the base. It has a dense, compact habit, and grows around 2½ feet tall, and up to 3 feet wide. Each stem is covered in large leaves from the ground up, and these are about 15 inches long and wide – but they don’t look that way. Each leaf is divided, and then divided again, into many small leaflets, in clusters of three, each one oval and pointed, about 3 inches long and 2 inches wide. The look is suggestive of bamboo, which is why this plant has that alternative name. The tough, slightly leathery leaflets are glossy and smooth, giving the plant a vibrant and attractive look.

Each stem grows new leaves from the top in spring, and these are beautiful tones of light pink, with a smoky touch. This color doesn’t soon turn green, as is common in many inferior varieties. Instead it holds its beautiful pink tones all summer, making a great contrast with the older green leaves. As winter comes those pink leaves darken to a glowing red, which lasts all winter – this plant is never without color. Only when the new growth has emerged in the following spring do the older leaves turn green. This plant does not normally flower.

Using the Blush Pink Nandina in Your Garden

The uses for the Blush Pink Nandina in any garden are endless. It is very adaptable to varying light levels, so wherever you want to use it, it will grow. Use it as a colorful specimen plant in a small garden bed. Plant it in a group beneath larger plants. As a neat edging plant along a path or driveway it has no equal. With its exotic, bamboo-like look it is perfect in courtyards and Asian-themed gardens, and it is a fabulous container plant too, filling clean, square, modern boxes just as effectively as it fills a glazed and decorated oriental pot. A pair framing your doorway, in the ground or in pots, is effective all year round, and with such an easy-care plant, it always looks great with minimal input from you.

Hardiness

In warmer zones, this plant is completely evergreen and hardy. Once the temperatures in winter drop below 10 degrees (that is, in zone 7) there can be some leaf drop of older leaves. In zone 6 this may be more extensive, but plants soon green up in spring, and survive well.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

The Blush Pink Nandina is very adaptable to light levels, growing well in full sun, partial shade and in light full shade, such as on the north side of a building or fence, or beneath high deciduous trees. It holds its structure well in shade, not becoming significantly more open and loose, as many other shrubs can. It grows well in almost all soils, but prefers some moisture, and soils enriched with organic material for optimal growth. Plants in full sun should be watered regularly, but once established this plant will tolerate periods of dryness easily. Avoid wet areas with poor drainage.

Pruning and Maintenance

This plant really needs no maintenance – a super-easy bush that always looks good. Some mulch in spring will conserve moisture and provide nutrients. In some states, especially in the south east, wild Nandina has spread into surrounding natural areas, but the Blush Pink Nandina doesn’t flower, so no seeds are produced so it cannot spread at all.

History and Origin of the Blush Pink Nandina

The sacred bamboo, Nandina domestica, grows wild in China, Japan, and India, and it is often planted around temples. Wild plants can be 8 feet tall. In the 1980s a dwarf plant called ‘Firepower’ was discovered at a nursery in New Zealand, and because it doesn’t flower it became very popular in states such as Florida. This plant is widely propagated from tissue culture and in 2004, at Magnolia Garden Nurseries in Texas, April and Kay Herring and Adriana Garza were working with trays of ‘Firepower’ when they spotted one plant that had pink new leaves, not the lime green of that variety. This plant became known as ‘AKA’, and it was patented by the nursery in 2009. It is made available with the trademark name of Blush Pink.

Buying the Blush Pink Nandina at The Tree Center

We love Nandina for its great foliage, attractive colors and easy growing. So do our customers, who are always on the lookout for the best. These plants will soon be gone, so order now and color up your garden without adding any work at all – how great is that?

The Twilight Nandina is a small, evergreen plant which has small leaflets on slender stems sprouting from the ground, giving it a similar look to bamboo. It grows into a dense mound of leaves and stems reaching 3 or 4 feet in height over time, and about 3 feet across. The leaves are large, but they are divided into many small leaflets, looking like small leaves. Each leaflet is different – some are pure green, others have white spots on them, others are streaked and splashed with white, and some are pure white, especially in winter. The overall effect is bright and sparkling, bringing lightness to darker corners, and adding interest to areas with perhaps too much heavy, dark green foliage. In spring the new leaves are flushed with a soft pink, tending towards bronze, which gradually turns white and green as the foliage matures. On older plants sprays of white flowers may be produced in spring, adding another touch of interest. Berries are not made, so this plant is not invasive.

Growing Twilight Nandinas

Use the Twilight Nandina wherever you have areas that need foliage to complement larger shrubs, or to fill spaces. Use it alone, or plant it as a continuous edging along beds. It looks just as effective that way edging a lawn, a driveway or a path. This is a much more dependable and durable way to edge beds, instead of the traditional annual flowers. With its bamboo-like appearance, it is ideal for Asian-style gardens, where it gives the right look, but avoids the terrible invasive nature of many true bamboo plants. Clumps of this plant gradually become wider over time, but they are never invasive or a problem in any way – and they are very, very low-maintenance. This is also a lovely plant for an attractive container, placed on a patio or terrace, or to use in planter boxes, alone, or mixed with other shrubs and flowers. Wherever you use this beautiful bush, you will love it.

Planting and Initial Care

The Twilight Nandina can be planted in full sun, partial shade or light full shade, such as beneath deciduous trees or on the north side of buildings. Wherever you put it, it will grow happily. It does best in moist soil, with plenty of organic material added, but apart from in extremely dry, sandy soils, it will grow happily in almost all garden conditions. Once established it easily tolerates normal summer drought periods, and it has no significant pests or diseases. Over time the plant will become taller, and the lower areas may lose foliage. If you prefer not to have this look, remove a few of the tallest stems every year or two, cutting them off at ground level. This will encourage new growth from the base, keeping your plants compact and bushy right to the ground. 

History and Origins of the Twilight Nandinas

Nandina, also called heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica), comes originally from China, Japan and India, where it is often grown in temple courtyards. Wild plants are plain green, with some pink color on the new leaves, but they can become too tall for many gardens. Over the years a wide range of small, more colorful varieties have been developed for gardens. The variety ‘Gulf Stream’, is one of them, and it was among some plants of that variety that ‘Twilight’ was discovered. In 2010 Neil Marek was caring for some plants of ‘Gulf Stream’ in a tissue-culture laboratory at Magnolia Gardens Nurseries in Magnolia, Texas. He spotted an unusual baby plant, which he removed and grew to full size. It had beautiful variegated green and white leaves and he called it ‘Twilight’. In 2015 he was granted a patent on his discovery, and this plant is now available – and meeting with rave reviews. Our plants are produced under license to be exactly like that original plant, and the demand is huge. Order now, as our stocks are quickly being shipped out.

What makes the Lemon-Lime Nandina a stand-out variety is that the leaves emerge in spring a fabulous pure lime green, a vibrant addition to your garden. As they mature, they turn darker green, but the new chartreuse-green growth continues for most of the season, so the result is a bush that has lime green outer leaves and a deeper green interior – a fabulous visual texture that is eye-catching and appealing.

Growing Lemon-Lime Nandina Plants

The Lemon-Lime Nandina is a dense, upright shrub, with many small leaves. It does look a little like a miniature bamboo plant, but in fact it isn’t even remotely related to them. It grows between 3 and 4 feet tall, and it spreads out to become a bush 3 to 4 feet wide. The plant has un-branched stems rising out of the ground, adding new ones as it grows into a denser clump. The stems are covered in large leaves, which are 6 inches long and 10 inches wide, but you won’t see that, because each leaf is divided into about 40 much smaller leaflets. These are on short stalks, and each one is only 1½ inches long and ½-inch wide. The result is a graceful cloud of leaves, creating a wonderful look in your garden.

Uses in Your Garden

With its smaller size the Lemon-Lime Nandina fits perfectly into a bed with other small shrubs, in a small space, or in front of larger shrubs in a bigger one. It is the perfect way to finish the front of a shrub bed, making a great border or edging that is neat and tidy for a more formal garden, but casual enough to look perfect in a more natural one too. For an edging, space plants 2 feet apart. It is also a wonderful and appropriate addition to a garden or courtyard planted in an Asian style, or with that sparse Zen look. It also looks fabulous in planter boxes, alone or with other plants, or in a rugged Chinese pot. In contemporary gardens too, it looks terrific, in the ground, in beds mulched with gravel, or in modern planters and pots.

Planting Location

The Lemon-Lime Nandina is hardy from zone 6 to zone 9, and it thrives throughout all the warmer states. In zone 6 it will lose some or most of its leaves in winter, but re-sprout vigorously once spring arrives, producing leaves from the top of the older stems, and from the base of the plant as well. Quickly it will establish its dense growth, and really look vibrant in pure lime-green for weeks. In warmer zones it is evergreen, and passes the winter a rich green color. Like other Nandina, you can grow this plant in any location from full sun to full shade. The lime leaf color will develop best in sunny spots, but the plant itself will grow well even in completely shady parts of your garden, although it will be closer to solid green. It will always grow better with adequate supplies of water, but once established it has moderate drought resistance.

It grows well in almost any kind of soil and does best with the addition of organic material when planting, plus an annual organic mulch over the root zone. This plant is normally completely free of pests or diseases, and always easy to grow, wherever you are. In containers and planters, use regular pot-plant soil, preferable one designed for outdoor planters. Make sure that all planters and pots have drainage holes, and don’t leave you plant sitting in a saucer of water for long periods.

History and Origins of the Lemon-Lime Nandina

Nandina or Sacred Bamboo is a native tree of Japan, China and India. It is called Nandina domestica, from the Japanese name for it – Nan-ten. It has been grown in western gardens in Europe and North America for over 200 years, but in Asian ones for centuries. The original plant can grow 8 feet tall, and while attractive it is too big for many gardens, as well as producing seeds that can be invasive in some areas. Many new varieties have been bred in recent years, and the variety called ‘Lemon-Lime’ is the result of breeding by Richard E. Davis, a breeder in Locustville, Virginia.

Davis took seeds from a yellow-berried form of the original Nandina, called ‘Aurea’, and raised many seedlings. Among them he found a unique plant – much more compact, with lime-green new growth and only flowering very rarely. This became the ‘Lemon-Lime’ variety, and he patented it is 2014. It is distributed by Plants Nouveau, of Charleston, South Carolina, a company run by two women horticulturists, who select and distribute many fabulous new plant varieties. The demand for interesting new Nandina varieties is enormous, and it far outstrips supply. So our stock of this great plant will be gone all too soon. Order now, while we can still satisfy your needs.

The Obsession Nandina is a small evergreen shrub that looks a little like bamboo, because of its upright stems and divided leaves. It isn’t one at all, but for that attractive and popular look, on a tough but non-invasive plant, heavenly bamboo is a great choice. It grows into a plant which is between 3 and 4 feet tall, and around 3 feet wide, making a dense but light-looking clump of leaves right to the ground.

Growing Obsession Nandina Plants

Obsession Nandina plants grow by slowly sending up new stems from close to the base, becoming a larger clump over time. The leaves are large, but they are divided into many smaller parts, so the effect is of many small leaves, giving an airy and attractive look. In spring the new leaves sprout from the top of the stems in a brilliant bright red coloring. Colored foliage is great for the garden, because it gives weeks of color, not a few days, as flowers do. Throughout spring the leaves hold that vibrant red, brightening every part of the garden where you plant it. Gradually they change, and by summer they are a rich, glossy deep green, looking cool and beautiful in the hot days.

When fall comes the leaves turn rich shades or red, even in warmer areas where many plants don’t develop fall colors at all. This wonderful display brings a lift to the end of the season, and continues throughout winter. In the coldest zones the leaves may fall, but in most areas where this plant is hardy it will remain evergreen and beautiful right into spring. At that time, the new red growth will emerge. Through the seasons this fabulous easy-care plant will be an ever-changing picture in reds and greens, adding lots and lots of interest, exactly in those difficult spots where color can be so hard to find.

Uses in Your Garden

Plant the Obsession Nandina wherever you want a lower shrub in the foreground of larger ones or mixed with other small shrubs in a small bed. It looks great planted alone or in small groups (perhaps of 2, 3, 5 or 7 plants) as accents among other plants or to fill awkward corners. It fits well into almost any style of garden, and it is a very useful and non-invasive substitute for bamboo in Asian-styled gardens, especially in smaller spaces. It looks great next to water, or in front of larger shrubs and trees. It is also a fantastic choice for filling long, narrow spaces between paths and fences or walls, or for edging a walkway, driveway, or larger beds. It makes the perfect visual boundary, without blocking the view across the areas at all, and it never needs trimming to stay neat and attractive. For edging, plant each shrub 18 inches to 2 feet apart in a row. They will soon grow together into a single bold line.

Planting Location

The Obsession Nandina grows in zone 6 and in all warmer zones. In zone 6, plant in full sun or light partial shade, in a sheltered spot, protected from the cold winter winds. Often in zone 6 it will lose some or most of its leaves in winter. If a few stems should die from winter cold, new ones will sprout from the base. In warmer zones it will remain evergreen. In all those zones it grows well in a broad range of light conditions, from full sun to shaded areas. It will not grow very well planted under low-hanging evergreen shrubs and trees in dark corners, but anywhere else in the garden it will be happy and grow perfectly.

It does not need winter cold to color in fall, and it grows well even in areas where the temperature never falls below freezing. It thrives in ordinary garden soil, doing best in moist soil, rich in organic material. It has no pests or diseases, and trimming is not needed. In fact, we do not recommend you try to trim this plant, as its unique structure will not replace trimmed leaves, except from the tops of the shoots. If you want to keep it a little lower, remove a few of the tallest stems at any time, by cutting them cleanly away at ground level. New shoots will sprout to replace them and keep your plant dense and lush.

History and Origins of the Obsession Nandina

The original nandina (Nandina domestica) came from China, Japan and India, where it was often grown around temples, which is why it is also called Heavenly Bamboo. Wild plants can grow up to 8 feet tall, making them too large for many gardens. They also produce many seedlings, which can be a problem in some areas. In 2005 April Herring and Adriana Garza, at the Magnolia Gardens Nursery, in Magnolia, Texas, spotted a unique plant growing in a tray of small plants of the Nandina variety ‘Gulf Stream’. While the new growth of that plant is a beautiful bronzy-red, this unique plant had new growth that was bright red. They took that plant, made more genetically identical plants in their tissue-culture facilities, and in that way created a new variety that they called ‘Seika’. They patented their discovery in 2011, and this plant is sold under the trade name Obsession Nandina.

The Obsession Nandina is a great choice for a smaller plant with vibrant coloring, and we know how popular these plants are, because our stocks are always rapidly sold out. So order now, while we can still satisfy your needs, or be disappointed.

With its airy appearance, complimented by red berries, and with its winter foliage turning red too, there is always something attractive to see on this plant. It is also very easy to grow, so it’s ideal for creating an attractive, but minimal maintenance garden. It will grow in almost any location, so those awkward questions like, ‘is there enough sun?’ or, ‘is this spot too shady?’ really don’t matter. Planted almost anywhere, it will thrive and give its best to you – a very attractive best.

Growing Compact Nandina Plants

Compact Nandina resembles bamboo, with a cluster of upright stems, rising straight from the ground, without branching. The leaves are very large, but because they are divided into many, many small leaflets, the effect is like a mass of small leaves – a leafy cloud. They are an attractive soft, slightly bluish green, and in fall, when colder weather arrives, they turn beautiful shades of red. This lasts all winter.

In warmer areas the leaves are completely evergreen, but in zone 6 they often fall during the coldest weather, and then re-sprout in spring. New spring leaves are coppery in color, soon turning green as they expand. Older stems produce sprays of white flowers in spring, which gradually turn into bright-red berries, in large clusters, which last well into winter, and sometimes until the following spring. They make a lovely show for months in the garden.

Hardiness and Climate

Compact Nandina will grow well in all the warmer redions – including zones 7, 8, 9 and 10. In zone 6 it will be partly or completely deciduous, but still be an exciting addition to any garden. It will also grow in warmer parts of zone 5, but some stems may be killed, with the plant re-sprouting from the base each year. Because if this it will probably only grow one or two feet tall. Even so, the novelty of growing such a plant in colder areas, and its attractive appearance, makes it very worthwhile for gardeners in those cooler areas.

In climates with lots of cloud and rainy weather, it will grow best and produce more berries in sunnier spots in the garden. Water it regularly when young, but once established this plant will survive short periods of moderate drought. It will always grow better with adequate supplies of water. It grows well in almost any kind of soil and does best with the addition of organic material when planting, plus an annual organic mulch over the root zone. This plant is normally completely free of pests or diseases, and always easy to grow.

Planting Location

Use Compact Nandina for any location from full sun to full shade. Fall color and flowering will be best in sunnier spots, but the plant itself will grow well even in completely shady parts of your garden. This makes it an ideal plant for shadier corners, such as under larger shrubs and trees. It fits well into all styles of gardening, and it is especially useful in Japanese themed gardens, where it makes an excellent substitute for bamboo, which can often grow too large, and become invasive in small gardens. Plant it too around your home, among the evergreens and other foundation plants – it adds textural interest and it is a wonderful choice for the shadier corners and along the north side of a building.

History and Origins of the Compact Nandina

Compact Nandina is a native tree of Japan, China and India where it is called Nandina domestica, which is taken from the Japanese name for it – Nan-ten. It has been grown in western gardens in Europe and North America for over 200 years. During that time many plants have been grown from seed, and some which grew smaller than normal were selected and named ‘Compacta’.

This is the origin of our plants, which are grown by division to be sure they retain that compact habit. Cheaper seedling plants will grow much larger, and they are not going to be this very useful smaller form. Because of the popularity of this plant, we know our top-quality stock will not last long, so order now, and grow the wonderful Compact Nandina anywhere in your garden.

Flirt Nandina is a dwarf form of the popular sacred bamboo – a plant often grown for its shade tolerance and drought resistance. The problem with the normal form of this plant is that it can grow tall, perhaps reaching 6 to 8 feet in height. This is often too large for most gardens, especially in shady places, beneath low-hanging branches. As well, apart from some soft pink color on new leaves for a short time, it is basically green. So plant breeders set to work, and now we have several much shorter forms, often with persistent colored leaves, but still with that tough, drought-resistant quality that makes them so easy to grow.

Growing Flirt Nandina

All the forms of Nandina plants we offer are useful in the garden, but the Flirt Nandina stands out for its unique, persistent leaf color, and its short stature, ideal for edging and for ground cover underneath shrubs. For nine months of the year the leaves of this plant are a delicious rich red color, like a fine red wine. This color begins in spring with the new growth, and it persists all summer and fall, only turning a unique shade of gray-green for a brief part of the winter, before sprouting anew with fresh leaves of rich red.

Size and Appearance

The leaves of the Flirt Nandina are large, but this is not apparent, since they are divided into many small leaflets. The effect is reminiscent of bamboo plants, which is why it has the alternative name of sacred bamboo, and the overall effect is airy and light. The Flirt Nandina is a dwarf plant, growing between one and two feet tall, and a similar width across. This makes it an ideal choice for the front of beds, in sun, partial shade or full shade. To grow it as an easy edging for a bed, plant them 18 to 20 inches apart in a row. No clipping is needed to keep it always neat and attractive.

Planting and Initial Care

When planting your Flirt Nandina, choose a spot in sun or shade. Some protection from afternoon sun is useful in the hottest states, and some morning sun will keep the foliage color at its richest. However, this tough and reliable plant will thrive in dry, dark places where most other plants fail. To help your new plants become well-established, add plenty of rich organic material to the soil when planting, and water regularly while the plants are young. Well-established plantings are drought-resistant, and need no extra care in normal summers. Not only that, pests and diseases are virtually unknown on this plant, so for low-maintenance, look no further.

Hardiness

The Flirt Nandina is hardy from zones 6 to 9, but there are a few things to keep in mind depending on which zone you are planting. In zones 8 and 9 sacred bamboo is evergreen, and the leaves last all winter, keeping your garden beautiful. In cooler areas, it may lose some or all its leaves when the temperature falls below 10^oF, but the dense cane clusters remain attractive. If you live in zone 6, and some canes die in winter, do not worry. Cut out any dead canes, and as spring comes you will see many new shoots emerging from the base of the plant, quickly filling in your planting.

History and Origins of the Flirt Nandina

The original Nandina (Nandina domestica), or sacred bamboo, is a plant native to Japan, China and India. It grows by sending upright canes from the base, forming a dense clump of stems, often of different heights. The tiny white flowers are in large, open clusters. These can develop into clusters of red berries, but the Flirt Nandina does not produce fruit. This is a good thing, since in warmer states there have been some issues with this plant escaping via seeds into wild areas, and interfering with the growth of native plants. That will not happen with the Flirt Nandina.

The origin of the Flirt Nandina is an interesting story. A large Texas plant grower called Magnolia Gardens Nursery was propagating some plants of a Nandina called ‘Harbour Dwarf’. In 2005 they were growing many plants in a micropropagation laboratory, and noticed one plant of an unusual coloring. This became the parent of the Flirt Nandina, which is also called ‘Murasaki’. This Japanese name is very appropriate, since it means ‘purple’ – which is close to the wine-red of the leaves. It is common today to grow plants in labs, and this has nothing at all to do with genetic modification (GMO).

Buying Flirt Nandina Plants at The Tree Center

As you can see, this is no ordinary plant, so avoid cheaper seedlings plants and other plants not clearly named, as they may grow large, and will certainly lack the unique wine-colored leaves of the Flirt Nandina. Our plants are grown with carefully selected pieces from strong, healthy plants, which are encouraged to form vigorous roots. The Flirt Nandina is one of our favorites, and it is ideal for those difficult spots where other plants won’t grow well. Enjoy it in sunny areas too – you won’t be able to get enough of its rich coloring. Neither will our customers, so our limited stocks are not going to last long. Order right away, while they do last, and enjoy this latest addition to the growing range of wonderful Nandina plants.

The Moon Bay Nandina is a beautiful dwarf shrub grows just 2 or 3 feet tall, and the same across, so it is small enough to grown in even the smallest garden. It also makes a beautiful container plant, so if you do not have a garden at all you can still grow this plant in a pot on a terrace or balcony. If you need to fill some planter boxes with interesting plants, rather than constantly having to change annual flowers, then this plant is a great choice for that too. It fits beautifully into an Asian-themed garden, among shrubs in any garden, or as part of the foundation planting around your home.

Growing Moon Bay Nandina Plants

The Moon Bay Heavenly Bamboo has finely-divided leaves that are much more upright than in the wild form, and it grows into a naturally rounded clump no more than 3 feet tall. It never needs clipping to be as neat as you like your plants to be, and it has no pests or diseases. It is rarely bothered by deer and needs no trimming to keep its beautiful form. In spring the new growth is a gorgeous yellow-green color, changing to soft green all summer. Then in fall this plant doesn’t pull any punches, and turns spectacular shades or red and orange.

In warmer areas it keeps its colorful leaves all winter. If the temperature falls below 10 degrees, then most of the leaves will fall. It is hardy to minus 10 degrees, although in that case a few branch tips may die. Since it re-sprouts from the base in spring this small amount of die-back is never a problem. This means that unless you live in a very cold area, you can enjoy this beautiful and reliable plant in your garden.

Planting and Initial Care

Prepare the soil well with plenty of organic material before planting your Moon Bay Heavenly Bamboo. Keep them well-watered while they become established in your garden, but mature plants will tolerate moderate drought. However, they will always do better if they are regularly watered, especially during hot spells. Organic mulch is a good way to both feed your plant and conserve moisture in the soil. Apply this in fall in colder areas, to protect the roots, or in spring in warmer regions, where root protection is not necessary.

Trimming and Maintenance

These plants have no significant pests or diseases, and they are normally not eaten by deer. They have good tolerance of urban conditions, and thrive in small gardens with minimal care. This truly is a low-maintenance plant. Because this variety is naturally dense and bushy, no trimming is ever required. After several years you can removing some of the oldest stems at ground level, to encourage sturdy new growth. Do this in early spring before, or as soon as, you see new growth developing. Remove about one-third of the older branches, and repeat this every year or so.

History and Origins of the Moon Bay Nandina

Heavenly Bamboo (Nandina domestica) is a native plant from China, Japan and India. In those countries it is often planted in temple gardens, which is why it is ‘heavenly’. Wild plants can grow to 8 feet tall, and they often spread underground into large clumps. In smaller gardens they are too large, but there are a number of dwarf forms available. We also recommend the Firepower and the Gulf Stream varieties for small gardens.

The patented variety named ‘Moon Bay’ was discovered by William Barr in 1986, among a batch of seedlings growing at Hines Wholesale Nurseries, Houston, Texas. He selected this variety for its unique upward turned foliage, beautiful yellow-green spring growth and its rounded, compact form. It can only be reproduced under license, and our plants are produced by licensed growers, so they are completely different from cheaper seedling plants, which will not resemble this special plant in any way.

The original Heavenly Bamboo comes from China, Japan and India, but these wild plants can grow up to 8 feet tall, making them too large for many gardens. They also produce many seedlings, which can be a problem. The variety ‘Gulf Stream’ is much smaller, and it rarely seeds, so it is much more desirable as a garden plant. It was developed by Hines Nursery, in Richmond, Texas. It can only be reproduced by pieces taken from the base of mature plants, and cheaper seedling plants will not have the dwarf character of this great variety.

Growing Gulf Stream Nandina Plants

Gulf Stream Heavenly Bamboo is a small evergreen or semi-deciduous shrub that brings the look of bamboo without the invasive growth of many of those plants. It grows to around 3 feet tall, as a clump of upright branches, spreading to around 3 feet wide. At this size, it is ideal for smaller gardens, or for mass planting in larger ones. It fits well into foundation planting around your home, beneath windows and among other smaller shrubs. It can also be used in shrub borders in the garden, as a specimen in beds, or as a container plant.

Appearance

The leaves are divided into many small leaflets, giving an open, airy look to this attractive plant. It fits well into almost any style of garden, and it is a valuable substitute for bamboo in Asian-styled gardens, especially in smaller spaces. It looks great next to water, or in front of larger shrubs and trees. It can also be used as a natural low hedge, and needs no trimming to always look compact and attractive. It can be planted alongside a path or driveway for a simple but beautiful border.

In spring, new stems emerge from the base of the plant, and also from the ends of the branches. The new, expanding leaves are a vibrant red color, which slowly turns into an attractive blue-green as summer arrives. Each leaf is divided into many smaller leaves, so the effect is open and airy, yet dense enough to give the plant an effective ‘presence’.

In fall the leaves turn spectacular rich reds and dramatic oranges, and this color is held through the winter. In warmer areas the plant is evergreen, staying red all winter. If the temperature falls to about 10 degrees F the plant will lose most of its leaves, but it is hardy even to minus 10, so it can easily be grown in all but the coldest parts of the country. It will also grow well in Florida and southern California, where the temperature never reaches freezing, and still color beautifully. Small white flowers may be produced in summer, but these are uncommon, and this plant rarely produces any seeds, so it cannot become invasive – a big plus in warmer parts of the country.

Planting and Initial Care

Choose a sunny spot for the Gulf Stream Heavenly Bamboo, as this will give the maximum foliage coloring, but the plant will also grow well in light to moderate shade. When planting, the soil should be enriched with organic material, and keep your plants well-watered during their early years. Once established this plant is moderately drought-resistant, but it always benefits from regular watering during dry spells.

It has no significant pests or diseases, and needs no special care to thrive in most gardens. This plant naturally sends up new branches from the ground, and removing some of the oldest ones by cutting them at ground level will encourage this, keeping your plants dense and bushy.

Adding Gulf Stream Nandina to Your Garden

Gulf Stream Heavenly Bamboo is a plant that belongs in every garden, and once you grow it you will wonder why you never grew it before. We have a good stock available, and these are top-quality plants, so our stock may not last long. Order now, while we still have stock, to enjoy one of the most beautiful foliage plants you can grow. You may also want to consider other varieties, like the Flirt Nandina and the Firepower Nandina.

The finely-divided leaves certainly give it the appearance of an unusual bamboo, which makes it ideal for bringing that Asian feel to a small space, since true bamboo plants are almost all too large to risk planting in a small garden. In many ways it is a superior plant to bamboos, because they do not have the spectacular red fall coloring of this plant, or the attractive sprays of white flowers. They also don’t have the clusters of red berries in fall, which are a special feature of the Heavenly Bamboo.

Growing Heavenly Bamboo Plants

This beautiful plant is certainly not restricted to Asian-themed gardens, although it is a great asset in them. Heavenly Bamboo will fit into any style of garden with ease – it is such a versatile and attractive plant. It will also grow in a wide range of light conditions, from full sun to deep shade. The ideal is morning sun and afternoon shade, but this is a tough, tolerant plant that happily grows with no direct sunlight at all. Equally, it will happily sit out in the full sun all day long.

Heavenly Bamboo comes from Japan, China and India. It has upright canes that sprout from the base, forming a dense clump of canes of different heights. The flowers are tiny and white, but carried in large, airy clusters. These develop into clusters of red berries. The leaves come out all along the stems, but in older stems they are more concentrated in the upper parts. Each leaf is large, but it is divided into many small leaflets, so that the overall effect is airy and light. In fall, the leaves turn beautiful shades or rich red, especially if they receive some sun, so this plant has something to offer at all seasons.

Uses in Your Garden

Plant your Heavenly Bamboo as single plants in corners or among other shrubs. Plant it in a row as a beautiful informal hedge or screen. Use them in pairs to frame a doorway or entrance. You don’t even need a garden to grow this lovely plant – it even makes a perfect specimen for a large pot or planter box, and it is much more elegant that constantly changing annual flowers each season.

Planting Location

Choose a spot with some morning sun as the ideal place to plant your Heavenly Bamboo, as the fall colors will be best with some sun, but these plants will also thrive in light shade and grow well in deeper shade too. It will establish best in soil with plenty of organic material added, and while young it should be watered regularly. However once established it has good drought tolerance and will grow well with almost no care. Pests or diseases never seem to attack Heavenly Bamboo, so this really is the perfect plant for a beautiful low-maintenance garden.

Hardiness

Heavenly Bamboo is hardy from zones 6 to 10, but depending on the area you live, its appearance may vary. It is evergreen in zones 8 to 10 and its red fall leaves last all winter, keeping your garden beautiful. In spring the new growth will change your plant back to green for the summer. In cooler areas, Heavenly Bamboo may lose some or all of its leaves when the temperature falls below 10^oF but the upright canes remain attractive. If you live in zone 6, you may find that some canes die in the winter, but the plant will sprout back from the base. Plants in colder regions will grow smaller, perhaps reaching only 3 or 4 feet tall, but still form bushy, dense clumps.

Adding Heavenly Bamboo to Your Garden

Wherever and however you choose to plant Heavenly Bamboo in your garden, this easy-care plant will become a favorite during every season. Such a versatile and attractive bush deserves a place in every garden, and you have the perfect spot in yours too. We have a good supply of plants, but this popular plant never stays around long, so order now and enjoy this trouble-free, beautiful plant in your own garden! All of our plants are grown by rooting carefully selected pieces from strong, healthy plants. Avoid cheaper seedlings plants, which may be uneven in growth and vigor, making your hedge or mass planting look very irregular and patchy.