\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. I have what I think are dwarf nandina along my driveway. There is often a noticeable difference between last year's growth and the current year's growth. You may be wondering when you can prune your Nandina if it is overgrown. Nandina thrives in USDA zones 6 to 9 and grows best in full sun or partial shade. 2. Typically, little or no pruning is needed on the more compact, tidy-shaped dwarf cultivars. Knowing how to properly prune a nandina will result in a healthy, gorgeous plant. Very low maintenance and incredibly hardy. Spring and fall are ideal times to plant. Learn the proper way to keep nandinas looking full and healthy. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. Can nandina be kept small? Most Nandina are fairly compact and have such a graceful, arching habit, you may be wondering, should I prune my Nandina? Its leaves are glossy green during summer, but they are shades of reddish-purple or dusty pink during fall and winter. 2. Despite its name, it is not related to bamboo at all; it is actually a shrub with bamboo-like leaves. What if the Nandina is getting too tall? You can take your easy pruning a step farther and select another 1/3 rd of the . I've been wondering if it's going to make it. 2. It grows up to 1.6 ft. (0.5 m) tall and wide. For example, nandina Gulf Stream is ideal as a backdrop landscaping plant. The nandina may take more time to recover from winter damage than many of your deciduous plants but most will probably recover. This nandina shrub is suitable for compact gardens or containers. While pruning any of these branches, ensure that you dont cut more than a third of it. Pruning heavenly bamboo shrubs is not a maintenance practice required annually. The small mounding nandina shrub has yellowy-green leaves in the summer that turn warm red and orange shades in the fall. By using our site, you agree to our. If you do that to the tallest one-third of the canes every year, you'll have a constant supply of fresh and new growth coming up from the ground each spring. Thank you so much for stopping by. Because dwarf heavenly bamboo naturally remains small and is slow growing, incorrect pruning is easily noticed because of the loss of foliage, stems and overall plant lushness. They get about 2x2' only and they do not set fruit. Nandina shrubs go by the common names of heavenly bamboo, Chinese sacred bamboo, or sacred bamboo. Firepower Nandina needs full sun for superior foliage color. The garden is so much beautiful that the morning of nature has been lost in the love of Nandinass beauty. If you can't get a 10-30-10 granular fertilizer, a rhododendron or evergreen fertilizer will do just fine. Apart from pruning to remove suckers that shoot up, nandina is a drought-tolerant plant that thrives in most soil types. The nandina will flower in late summer, giving you red berries in late fall. Nandina nana shrub doesnt flower or produce berries. However, several nandina cultivars are worthy of consideration. Severely damaged plants may die back completely to the ground and regrow from the roots. They are non-invasive, and they also come in very bright colors. Therefore growing it from seed it not recommended. Description: Blush Nandina is a revolutionary medium sized dwarf Nandina that produces red new growth in spring and autumn. How do you prune a dwarf nandina? Most effective when used as a ground cover, specimen plant, or border. This cultivar is grown for its foliage, unlike other heavenly bamboo, it does not have the racemes of white or light-pink flowers succeeded by red berries. Foliage turns bright red in fall and holds that color most of winter. I hope you enjoy and don't forget to sub. The best time to prune your nandina is in late winter or early spring, before new growth begins. The shrub-like bush thrives in full sun but will grow just as well in partial-shaded conditions. Why Choose Plants from Southern Living Plant Collection. Among the symptoms of eating nandina berries are vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and nausea. Dwarf form Nandina that typically grows to only 2' tall and as wide. 5. Prune the plants in early spring, if desired. Only prune the tallest or least vigorous-looking stems from the plant clump. Mature Height/Spread. In younger shrubs, its all right to remove two or three of the tallest canes to the ground to keep the appearance lower (but no more than 1/3 of the plants total canes). Once the sucker shoots have a root system, you can dig them out from the parent plant and replant them in your garden. Nandina domestica nana Firehouse is a dwarf nandina shrub with compact mounding growth and bright green foliage that turns red in fall and winter. The sun-loving shrub grows well in landscapes as a low informal hedge, shrub borders, container gardens, foundation planting, or specimen plant. Its botanical name is Nandina Domestica. Although the name sounds familiar to the bamboo plant, both of them are not related at all. Although Nandinas grow quicker than expected, it is advisable not to cut them back heavily when pruning. This is called renewal pruning, and fosters full lush new growth throughout the plant, while keeping the shape natural. Small, pink or bronze, tripinnately compound, leaves emerge in spring and turn orange to red in the winter. Firepower has bushy foliage that changes color with the seasons. You can purchase both of these tools from a garden supply shop or hardware store, but ensure that they are sharp. . If you have six canes, cut two of the branches to the ground, two to 1/3 of the shrubs height, and up to 2/3 of the shrubs height. Growth Habit of the Dwarf Nandina 'Flirt': - Nandina Flirt has a compact somewhat upright but rounded growth habit and needs little to no pruning to keep its . It was beautiful a couple of months ago with green leaves and covered with red berries. If you some questions, kindly leave your comment below, and Ill be happy to write back to you. To eliminate pests from garden shrubs like nandina, its best to use a strong jet of water to dislodge the bugs. X Nandina shrubs can form dense thickets that crowd out native plants. During winter, when growth is dormant, you should water nandina less frequently. Start your 30 day free trial now! While Nandinas, especially dwarf varieties, rarely need pruning, on occasion larger plants will become overgrown and leggy or thick and dense. From fall to spring, red leaves and bright red berries decorate the upright nandina shrub. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. A winter-long stunning display when planted in groupings, massed, or as a colorful low hedge or border. Nandina Plum Passion is a nandina shrub with reddish-purple foliage that decorates the erect stems in spring, fall, and winter. Heavenly bamboo will need to be watered more frequently when grown in a container versus a garden. Otherwise, occasional rain should be enough to keep the ground moist. Nandina shrubs are easy to propagate from softwood cuttings. Before and after using any of your tools (looping shears and pruning shears), ensure you properly clean them with sanitizers or bleach solution. This plant requires little maintenance, but proper watering, fertilizing and pruning will ensure it develops plenty of foliage. Youll find that heavenly bamboo comes in different sizes. Ideally, it is placed where it can attain . ASPCA. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Both softwood (new growth) and semi-hardwood cuttings work for propagating heavenly bamboo. Maintain a natural appearance by pruning each stalk to a different height, cutting back . Water the soil around the Firepower when it becomes dry to the touch. However, sap-sucking mealybugs and whitefly can affect the shrubs growth. Roses can be pruned a lot, also fig trees. Draw a 30cm circle around the end of the plant. Step 1 Get your hand pruners and ensure the blade is disinfected and sharp. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. For optimal growth, its a good idea to keep the ground well-watered but not soggy. University of Florida Nassau County Extension: Nandina, University of Arkansas: Nandina Anthracnose. Its shrubs come with a multi-season display of red foliage and bright pink. Cover the container with plastic wrap to keep in the humidity until roots sprout. Evergreen nandina shrubs keep their leaves throughout winter. Due to its suckering nature, nandina can be a high-maintenance shrub that requires regular pruning to prevent it from spreading too much. How many years will this plant survive in a yard garden? It is easy to transplant nandina from containers or dig up existing plants to transfer to another part of your garden. Like all heavenly bamboo. Semi-hardwood is the part of the stem that is partially, but not fully mature. Fertilizing will also prepare it for better growth during the next season. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. You should use sharp, clean pruning shears, and make sure that you don't damage the plant's bark. Using hand pruners (never hedge shears), renew neglected clumps by cutting one-third of the main stalks to the ground every year for three years. Nandina Domestica Nana - Dwarf Nandina. For leggy plants remove the older . When and How to Prune Nandina Shrub. Royal Princess: These are the semi-dwarf varieties of Nandinas. Below zero temps kill it to the ground. The foliage remains evergreen in all the seasons . Use pruning shears to cut the individual canes. Start by cutting back heavenly bamboo canes. Use organic mulch and spread a 2-inch layer on the soil surrounding the plants. Fertilize the Nandinas immediately after pruning. Heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica) is an ornamental evergreen shrub in the Berberidaceae family.It does well when grown in slightly humid, bright conditions and is hardy in USDA zones 6 through 9. Summer colors are green before the leaves turn red, and berries appear in fall and persist through winter. I have them planted all over my front and backyard, in shade and full sun. Heavenly bamboo dwarf cultivars may be severely cut back for rejuvenation. Nandina, sometimes called Sacred Bamboo or Heavenly Bamboo, is a beautiful shrub native to Japan. Take out one-third of the total number at ground level, spacing those you remove evenly throughout the bush. Wrap the container in burlap and bubble wrap so the roots don't suffer cold injury during freezing tempertures. To make them last a few more days, fill the vase with cool water. Heavenly Bamboo Care . Nandina plant pruning allows for a fuller plant. Select a few of the tallest stems and shorten them by two-thirds. There are several varieties, but if needed, the taller stems can be pruned to lower the height of the plants. Its pinnately compound leaves look similar to those of bamboo, hence its common name "sacred bamboo.". It also develops a bright red color during the fall. Another reason to prune would be to remove weak, broken, or crossing branches. In most plantings, the plant remains quite compact. Any time of year, cut back a branch or two to use in a flower arrangement or wreath. 4. Follow the fertilizer manufacturers directions for mixing and application method. Nandina shrubs are relatively resistant to pests. A number of forms and cultivars are available for sale in Australia: Nandina domestica 'nana' a dwarf variety that will reach a little over .5m. Plant the cutting in a container. Nandina Nana - Dwarf nandina is adaptable to various soils but grows best in rich, well drained, loamy soil with ample water. Just prune off any brown leaves or dead branches when you see them for cosmetic purposes. Some of the most popular ones are the pink-flowered Nandinas, dwarf Nandinas, and royal princess. A spectacular multi-season display of color with bright pink and red foliage, fall through winter. This nandina bush features clusters of pink flowers and masses of crimson red berries. Nandina 'Firepower'. .Nandina anthracnose causes leaf drop and can eventually kill the plant. Frost hardy, drought hardy, air-pollution hardy which is . Drue Tibbits is a writer based in Central Florida, where she attended Florida Southern College. Pests are not normally attracted to Nandinas, but if you get to notice them around the plant, ensure you get rid of them as soon as you can. Purchase 140mm Dwarf Nandina - Nandina domestica Nana. Stems with normal heights can be pruned to half lengths. Cut the stem of a heavenly bamboo plant where the newest growth begins. 30-36 inches wide, although generally grown in clumps. After applying the fertilizer, water the soil thoroughly to prevent root burn. The wider the hole the better. David Beaulieu is a landscaping expert and plant photographer, with 20 years of experience. Find out more. Cutting far down the stem is unhealthy, and it will give the plant a bad look. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. If you are looking for beautiful foliage in all seasons, this is a great option.