Nandina Domestica Nana

Dwarf Heavenly Bamboo

Botanical Name: Nandina domestica 'Nana'
Family: Berberidaceae
Origin: East Asia (China, Japan)
Plant Type: Evergreen dwarf shrub

Overview

Nandina domestica ‘Nana’ is a compact, non-invasive dwarf form of Heavenly Bamboo that delivers year-round colour and texture to Adelaide and South Australian gardens. Its fine, feathery foliage shifts through a beautiful spectrum — bronze to red on new growth, bright lime in spring, rich green through summer, and fiery red-orange in autumn and winter. Dense and naturally rounded, it’s perfect for borders, low hedges, containers, and mass plantings that need long-lasting colour with minimal care.

Key Features

• Mature Size: 0.4–0.6 m H × 0.4–0.6 m W — compact, naturally rounded form
• Growth Rate: 10-20 cm per year under good conditions
• Foliage: Fine, lacy leaflets that shift from bronze-red new growth to fresh lime-green in summer, and vivid red-orange in winter; best colour in full sun
• Flowers: Occasionally produces small white flower clusters in spring; rarely fruits
  
• Seasonal Interest: Four seasons of colour—spring bloom, lush summer green, autumn berries, and winter foliage fire
• Wildlife Value: Flowers attract bees and beneficial insects
• Tolerance: Drought-tolerant once established, heat- and frost-tolerant, wind- and coastal-tolerant in sheltered spots, and clay-tolerant if well drained
• Planting Density: 3–5 plants per m² for mass planting, or 0.4–0.6 m spacing for edging
• Pet Friendly: Use caution — leaves contain cyanogenic compounds; avoid ingestion and dispose of prunings safely

Where It Works Best

• Sunlight: Full sun to part shade; colour intensifies in full sun, greener tones in part shade
• Soil: Prefers well-drained loam or sandy loam, tolerates improved clay and slightly alkaline soils
• Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 8–12 weeks. Established: deep soak every 10–14 days in summer; monthly in winter if dry
• Maintenance: Low-maintenance — light trim annually or every second year to shape; remove older stems if needed; mulch in spring; apply balanced native-safe fertiliser in early spring
• Lifespan: 15-20+ years in suitable conditions
• Climate Zones: Ideal for temperate and Mediterranean SA, including Adelaide Hills, plains, and coastal suburbs
• Soil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral, tolerates mildly alkaline

Landscape & Design Ideas

• Mass Planting: Create soft, year-round colour blocks along pathways, courtyards, or mixed borders
• Low Hedges & Edging: Use for neat, low hedges in front of taller shrubs like Camellia sasanqua or Westringia
• Container Feature: Great in decorative pots for patios and entrances; pairs beautifully with Liriope, Heuchera, or Lomandra ‘Lime Tuff’
• Seasonal Contrast: Mix with Nandina ‘Gulf Stream’, Japanese Maple, or Loropetalum for layered red and green foliage

Why You Will Love It

‘Nana’ brings effortless structure and colour to South Australian gardens — glowing red in winter, fresh lime in spring, and rich green through summer. It’s tidy, drought-tolerant, and thrives in Adelaide’s climate, making it one of the easiest year-round performers for borders, pots, and low-water gardens.