Nandina domestica/Sacred or Heavenly Bamboo Species Guide
Nandina domestica is an evergreen shrub and not a bamboo as is sometimes thought. There are a number of varieties of Nandina domestica suitable for bonsai cultivation including N.domestica 'Firepower' which has yellow and red leaves as opposed to the plain green leaves of the species.
Nandina do not easily form one single thick trunk and does not branch out readily; it is therefore much more suitable for clump styles.For this reason it is often regarded as more of a bonsai accent plant than a 'real' tree or species for bonsai.
Ease of Cultivation 9/10 Suitablity and Ease for Bonsai Styling 4/10
Position Indoor or Outside. Full sun. Frost hardy to -5°C. Nandina can be cultivated indoors on a sunny windowsill.
Repotting Every other year in Spring in basic soil mix.
Pruning Nandina will readily grow back when trunk-chopped; taking approximately 6 weeks to leaf out again. Try to avoid cutting back shoots to the same point continually to avoid creating an unsightly bulge on the trunk.
Nandina do not easily form one single thick trunk and does not branch out readily; it is therefore much more suitable for clump styles.
Propagation Cuttings in summer, division of suckers.
Pests and diseases Trouble free though can be affected by viruses, which can distort foliage growth.
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