How to Grow and Care for Heavenly bamboo

Heavenly bamboo, also known as Sacred bamboo, Nandina

Heavenly bamboo generally has a low-maintenance profile, making it an easy-to-care-for plant suitable for a range of gardeners. Key special care points include its preference for well-drained soil and exposure to full sun to partial shade to ensure vigorous growth and berry production. Overwatering should be avoided as heavenly bamboo is sensitive to root rot. Pruning is recommended to maintain shape and promote dense foliage.

Watering schedule: Every 1-2 weeks

Sunlight Requirements: Full sun

Toxic to Human & Pets

In This Article

Planting and Growing Heavenly bamboo

Toughness	High
Care Level	Low
Care Difficulty	Easy
Lifespan	Perennial
Watering Schedule	Every 1-2 weeks
Sunlight Requirements	Full sun
Soil pH	6-7.5
Planting Time	Spring, Fall
Hardiness Zones	7-11
Toxicity	Toxic to Human & Pets

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Varieties of Heavenly bamboo

Heavenly bamboo 'Aka'

Heavenly bamboo 'Aka' is a cultivar of heavenly bamboo known also as the Blush Pink, discovered in 2004 as an unintentional variant of the Firepower cultivar. This bamboo cultivar was named for its full, rich, red-purple foliage, which makes it very striking in a garden. The cultivar doesn’t flower, but gardeners still enjoy it for its beauty and resistance to pests.

Heavenly bamboo 'Twilight'

Heavenly bamboo 'Twilight' is a Heavenly bamboo cultivar, prized for its multi-seasonal interest, provided by its spectacular foliage, as well as its neat growth habit. The leaves of this popular ornamental plant open pink and bronze and eventually become green with prominent creamy and pink variegations, unlike the parent plant which has solid leaves.

Heavenly bamboo 'Fire Power'

Despite its name, heavenly bamboo 'Fire Power' is no Bamboo, but rather a cultivar of Barberry. After bearing small white flowers in summer, this cultivar develops compound leaves overlaid with tones of red and orange in autumn, accounting for its common name. Later, the flowers develop into small red fruits as the leaves wither and fall. As this cultivar possesses an unusually compact habit, some classify it as an ideal hedging plant.

Common Pests & Diseases

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The Toxicity of Heavenly bamboo

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More General Info About Heavenly bamboo

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Heavenly bamboo is an evergreen shrub that resembles bamboo with its cane-like stems. This plant can reach heights of 6-8 feet (183-244 cm) and a span of about 4 feet (122 cm). The leaves are long, divided into slender leaflets, and the new growth has a reddish tinge. In autumn, foliage can change to orange-bronze or purplish-red. Late spring to summer brings clusters of pinkish-white flowers, followed by distinctive bright red berries at the terminals. It thrives in both sun or shade and can tolerate dry conditions, withstanding temperatures as low as 10 degrees F (-12 degrees C).