Nandina domestica, on its common name Heavenly bamboo or Sacred bamboo, is an evergreen or semi-evergreen woody shrub, native from India, China and Japan. The species and its dwarf varieties are often used in landscaping because of their oriental effect and distinctive appearance by their bamboo-like stalks and delicate, ferny foliage that become vividly-colored in fall. An addition to their appeal are the large, erect panicles of creamy white flowers that appear in spring and are followed by decorative bright orange-red berries in fall and winter. Is a low maintenance shrub, requiring only one pruning each year, in early spring, to control plant height and keep it in compact shape.

Nandina is widely grown in gardens as an ornamental plant and makes an excellent choice for entryways, patios, and foundation plantings or as specimen plantings in a ground cover display. Multiple plantings may be used as a screen or hedge. It is also suitable for growing as a container plant, indoors. It is one of the plants that provide all-year interest. In the spring, the new foliage emerges as bright bronzed red. It is soon followed by large panicles of creamy white flowers held well above the foliage. As the season changes, the foliage becomes blue green, fading to light green. Clusters of bright green berries are forming after the flowers are fading. By late summer, the berries will ripen and become bright red. In the fall, the foliage color changes again into shades of pink and red, ending the year with bright red leaves and berries. The berries will remain on the branches and often persisting through the winter.

Nandina will grow and flower well in a place with partial shade but will provide much richer-colored red fall foliage if it is planted in a place with full sun but protected from late afternoon sun and from harsh winds. For best growing conditions it prefers a reasonably rich soil and average moisture but it will tolerate dry spells once established. A regular fertilization encourages growth and thicker plants. If grown in containers it requires protection during the summer, as it is sensitive to high soil temperatures. Plant or transplant Nandina during the cooler months of the fall.

Propagate Nandina by taking semi-ripe cuttings during the warm weather, by division or letting it slowly spread itself by underground stems. Propagation is also possible by sowing seeds in containers in a cold frame as soon as they ripe, but germination may take several years.