How To Identify Nandina When You See It

Perhaps, you're already aware of the characteristic red leaf-coloring of the Nandina plant. However, you might not know of its many other interesting and unique aspects.

Here is a thorough description of Nandina, provided by the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences of the University of Florida:

Unique Features Of Nandina

This plant is greatly valued for its distinctive appearance. It also sprouts decorative bright red berries during fall and winter that make it even more interesting. Its dazzling red leaf color might keep you from noticing its many other interesting features, which include the bamboo-like stalks.

Don't be surprised if you plant attracts a good number of birds, since various types of birds find its berries quite tasteful. Another interesting aspect is the fact that your plant will grow by underground stems. This makes it superb for creating attractive clumps for entryways.

Uses

Various Uses Of This Beautiful Plant Include:

(i) Borders (ii) Specimen (iii) Container plants (iv) Above-ground planter (v) Mass planting (vi) Accents (vii) Small parking lot islands (less than 100 square feet) (viii) Medium-sized parking lot islands (between 100 and 200 square feet) (ix) Large parking lot islands (more than 200 square feet)

Detailed Description

In order to correctly identify this or any other plant, you must have a detailed understanding of all its aspects. Moreover, understanding all the specific features will help you in identifying the best use for it.

Firstly, this 'heavenly bamboo' has a height ranging from 5 to 8 feet and a spread ranging from 2 to 3 feet. It possesses a moderate growth rate in an upright position. You can also enjoy the beauty of its red-colored, fleshy fruit once they start developing. In the mean time, birds will be enjoying these fruits, which they find quite delicious. Such fruits are round in shape and less than 0.5 inch in length.

This plant normally has multi-trunks and branches bearing an alternate arrangement of compound leaves. Such leaves are lanceolate-shaped with pinnate/ reticulate venation. Moreover, the 2-4 inch evergreen leaves would turn red in fall.

Other Important Aspects

Part shade and part sun is the ideal lighting condition for growing this plant. However, if grown in the sun, you're guaranteed to have even richer-colored red foliage in fall. Apart from that, it has much more flexibility related to soil tolerance. This is because it can do well in a wide variety of soils including: clay, sand, slightly alkaline, loam and acidic soils. Unfortunately, it has a poor tolerance to soil salt. It's also moderately tolerant to drought.

Make sure to give ample spacing when planting, ranging from 24 to 36 inches. This will provide a wide enough area for lateral spreading. Unlike other plant varieties that may wither during winter, this variety offers an interesting visual display during this season, due to its red leaf coloring.

The shrub requires only one pruning annually, to control its height. Hence, you can enjoy the added benefit of low maintenance. An extra advantage is the fact that it isn't normally affected by pests. You can even reduce the chances of foliage disease infection by planting it in full sun.


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