Some Interesting Facts About The Dwarf Sacred Bamboo

Did you know that the dwarf sacred bamboo is not actually a bamboo? It's simply a dwarf variety of Nandina domestica. Here are some other interesting facts about it that you might not know.

Not The Only Dwarf Cultivar

If you thought that this variety is the only dwarf variety of Nandina doimestica, you were absolutely mistaken. There exist several other dwarf varieties, just like this plant.

Various dwarf cultivars include (based on information from the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences of the University of Florida):

- Atropurpurea Nana: This variety isn't quite appealing, although it bears the distinctive reddish color.

- Compacta: A unique form that has a purplish winter color unlike the other cultivars. It's also 4 feet tall.

- Firepower: This 2 feet tall variety bears a fall color ranging from red to maroon. It has the added benefit of being virus free, hence would have much superior foliage compared to other cultivars.

- Gulfstream: A 4 feet tall, upright growing cultivar whose foliage turns a reddish-bronze color in fall. It propagates through suckers originating at the base of the plant.

- Harbor Dwarf: This variety is among the shorter forms, being 1.5 to 2 feet tall. It also has unique bronze fall foliage.

- Moonbay And Nana Purpurea: Rounded and spread varieties with the characteristic red foliage in fall. They both range from 1.5 to 2.5 feet in height.

- Woods Dwarf: The fall foliage color of this form varies from red to maroon and it has a height of 1.5 feet.

- Lowboy: This 3-foot variety has red fall foliage, flowers and produces red berries.

The Original Sacred Bamboo Is Regarded As An Environmental Weed

Sacred bamboo (Nandina domestica), from which the dwarf sacred bamboo originates, is actually considered an environmental weed within New South Wales. Moreover, the Blue Mountains City Council lists sacred bamboo as an environmental weed.

This original species has gained the reputation of being quite invasive in the USA. The plant has invaded woodlands, floodplains and forests in Georgia, Alabama and northern Florida.

Fortunately, alternative cultivars have been developed such as Nandina domestica Nana (the dwarf sacred bamboo) which are not as invasive as the original species.

Dwarf Sacred Bamboo Can Be Used In Bonsai

Bonsai is a traditional Japanese art form dating back thousands of years, which makes use of miniature trees growing in containers. These art pieces are truly interesting displays of the grower's ingenuity. If you didn't know, the sacred bamboo may also be utilized in this captivating art form.

According to the Columbus Bonsai Society, a key specimen of this art form is a very large and old piece that is estimated to be more than 500 years. It's a spectacular, Chinese-owned, 32-inch plant with multiple trunks and exposed roots.

An interesting benefit in choosing this plant for bonsai is its relative hardiness. It can withstand light frost at 51 to 45 degrees, but not freezing temperatures. Moreover, its reddish leaf color is bound to add an interesting display. This will be well complemented by its bright red berries.


----------------------------------------------------
Keith Kelso offers many useful tips to help you succeed in your landscaping pursuits. Nursery Online is his recommended source for the best plant varieties for any garden. You can find a large stock of beautiful plant varieties. Visit http://www.nurseryonline.com.au/nandina-nana-dwarf-sacred-bamboo-200mm/ for more information.