What makes this plant special is the color it provides in the garden during all four seasons of the year.
General: Associated with the genus Nandina, it's not a true bamboo but a member of the Berberidaceae, or barberry family. Its origins are China and Japan. The plants are dioecious, meaning male and female flowers are borne on separate plants. Both are needed for cross-pollination for the development of berries. They tolerate drought, cold and heat, but they prefer protection from the wind.
Size: The plant grows to about 6 feet tall.
Flowers: White flowers bloom in summer. In addition, heavenly bamboo is grown for its colorful red seeds.
Cultivation: Plant any time of the year from 1- or 5-gallon containers. For accent groupings in your landscape, plant them 4 feet on center. Make the watering basin twice the plant's diameter, create a berm 4 to 6 inches in height, and mulch the basin's surface with 2 inches of compost or humus mulch. Partial shade is preferred, although they will grow in full sun. Heavenly bamboo plants tolerate pH ranges from 6.5 to 7.0. They prefer loam soil, but will adopt to denser soil.
-- Source: "California Gardener's Guide" by Bruce and Sharon Asakawa (Cool Springs Press, $24.99)
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