Search Fact Sheets Virginia Tech Dendrology

heavenly bamboo Berberidaceae Nandina domestica Thunb. Listen to the Latin Print a QR link to this factsheet symbol: NADO
Leaf: Alternate, evergreen, tri-pinnately compound, leaflets ovate 1 to 2 inches long, entire leaf 10 to 20 inches long, initially reddish bronze when opening in the spring, later turning green and then reddish in the fall.
Flower: White, occurring in 10 to 15 inch upright clusters, anthers yellow, appearing in summer.
Fruit: Red, round, 1/3 inch across, in large spike-like clusters; ripen in late summer and persistent through the next year.
Twig: Moderate, reddish, unbranched, yellow inner bark.
Bark: Brown, splitting into shallow ridges and furrows.
Form: A large many stemmed shrub that forms a round crown, reaches up to 6 feet in height.

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Additional Range Information: Nandina domestica is planted in the USDA hardiness zones shown above and may seed into the landscape. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDAFS FEIS Silvics - USDA Plants Database - Horticulture Information
All material 2025 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information