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Nandina domestica
Sacred Bamboo
Heavenly Bamboo
Not native to Florida
This plant is an invasive exotic that is altering native plant communities by displacing native species, changing community structures or ecological functions, or hybridizing with natives.
This species should never be planted (many with this designation are prohibited by law), and generally should be removed whenever possible.
Native to Asia this shrub has sometimes been used in landscaping. It has escaped into the wild from north-central Florida into parts of the panhandle. Also now found in the southeastern coastal states from Texas to Virginia.
Despite the common names this is not a bamboo. Numerous, usually un-branched stems can grow to 2m (6-1/2 ft.) tall and 1.5m (5 ft.) wide. The leaves are bi- or tri-pinnately compound with entire leaflets. Fresh young leaves are pink to red before turning green, then turn red again before falling. Leaflets are 4-11cm (1-1/2 to 4-1/3 in.) long and 1.5-3cm (up to 1-3/16 in.) wide. The flowers are borne in both axial and terminal conical-shaped panicles that are held erect above the foliage. Flowers have six white petals 4mm (1/6 in.) long and 2.5mm (1/10 in.) wide. The mature fruit is a red berry 5-10mm (2/10 to 4/10 in.) in diameter, often persisting into the winter.
The berries are extremely toxic to both birds and animals.
Nandina domestica is a member of the Berberidaceae - Barberry family.
Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants (Institute for Systemic Botany) profile for this species
USDA Plant Profile for this species
Date record last modified: Dec 26, 2022
