by Melanie Kinsey

In the garden of my childhood home in suburban Melbourne, there lived a huge specimen of Nandina domestica or Japanese Sacred Bamboo (also known as Heavenly Bamboo). It was tucked under the eaves on the southern side of the house and so received no water and no direct sunlight. Yet this plant grew to over my father's head and filled its little nook with the delicate tracery of its bamboo-like leaves. Over many years the clump gradually increased in size and small plantlets were severed from the parent and given to anyone who asked for them. Large panicles of small white flowers were sometimes produced and occasionally these were followed by the odd red berry the size of a pea.

Nandina domestica belies its delicate appearance and is a tough survivor hailing from Asia. Not a bamboo at all, the Nandina generally grows to about 1.5m and is in the Berberidaceae family. If you cut the roots they are a startling bright yellow - a characteristic of the members of this family. A search of the internet will reveal that there are apparently dozens of cultivars of Nandina domestica. Names like 'Royal Princess', 'San Gabriel' and 'Umpqua Chief' sound intriguing and I would love to see the yellow and white berrying forms. Unfortunately as far as I know these cultivars are not in Australia, so having whet your appetite I will describe the cultivars that are here!

Nandina domestica nana has deservedly become very popular. It is a dwarf form of the species with bigger leaves that are curiously rolled or cupped. It grows to about 60cm and forms a dense rounded shrub with burgundy new growth. The main feature of this form are the amazing shades of oranges and reds that the leaves turn during autumn and winter. Small flowers and berries are possibly produced but are not a feature. There is also a purple leaved form of this dwarf Nandina.

Another dwarf cultivar that is a recent introduction to Australia is Nandina domestica 'Gulf Stream'. This cultivar was developed in Houston, Texas in the U.S.A. The leaves are smaller and more diamond-shaped than the species and the bush is very dense and compact. Autumn and winter colouring can occur depending on location. This cultivar has not been known to flower or berry and grows to between 50 and 75cm.

Also to be found are N. d. 'Firepower' and N. d. 'Moonbay'. 'Firepower' is described as having lime greenish-yellow leaves which turn a hot pink and a deep wine red (wow!) in winter on a compact shrub 60cm X 60cm. 'Moonbay' has leaves that turn red in autumn and winter again on a small shrub.

The cultivar that has caught my fancy and which I have planted in my garden is 'Richmond'. The label says "slender upright growth with delicate foliage creating a lacy effect" but for me the reason for planting this particular cultivar was the berries. Tightly packed panicles of pinkish buds bloom white and are followed in autumn and winter by masses of shiny red berries which stay on the bush for months and are set off to advantage by the green leaves.

I live in the country and neither the blackbirds nor the parrots have looked twice at the beautiful red berries and I get to admire and appreciate them for ages. Each year the bush has increased slightly in size and now at 5 years of age it is currently 1m high by 1.5m wide and is laden with 15 sprays of berries. Everyone who visits my garden remarks on this wonderful plant which provides vibrant colour at an otherwise colourless time.

So when you are considering colour in your garden, go beyond the fleeting glory of flowers and consider seasonal leaf colour variations and berries. The Nandinas certainly provide both of these considerations in a hardy, grow anywhere package.

Illustrations from top to bottom:
Nandina domestica 'Richmond' - the berries are an arresting sight in the middle of winter
N. domestica nana - the brilliant orange & red hues show up in winter
N. domestica 'Gulf Stream' has dense foliage and bronze new growth
N. domestica 'Richmond' - pinkish buds open to white flowers
N. domestica 'Richmond' bush

Copyright: words & photos Melanie Kinsey