Plant library · Conifers & Evergreens
Nandina domestica
Nandina is an upright evergreen shrub that brings a narrow, cane-like outline to planting beds through much of the year. At about 6 feet tall and 4 feet wide, it works best as a middle-to-back layer where its vertical form can rise behind lower shrubs and perennials. Red berries extend its visual presence beyond the late spring to early summer bloom period, giving a border structure in quieter seasons.
Use nandina to give depth to a foundation bed, mixed shrub border, or open edge where a 6-foot backdrop will not block a window, gate, or sightline. Its upright habit is more useful as a repeated vertical accent than as a low, continuous hedge. Keep the planting line far enough from paths and steps that the foliage and stems remain inside the bed, leaving a clear circulation strip for routine passage and maintenance.
Plant nandina 4 feet apart, center to center, for a connected row that still allows each shrub to hold its own 4-foot mature width. Set the row at least 2 feet back from a path edge, wall, or fence where possible, so the mature canopy has room without pressing into circulation or requiring constant correction. In layered beds, reserve the foreground for plants that stay below its branching canopy.
Place it in partial sun and plan for moderate watering, especially while the bed is establishing. A site with some direct light can support its upright evergreen role without making it the dominant mass in the border. Group it with nearby plants that fit the same moderate-moisture routine, so irrigation can be managed by bed zone rather than by individual plant.
Late spring to early summer flowers occupy the tips of the upright stems, followed by red berries that carry visual weight into fall and winter. Leave enough open space around the upper half of the shrub for these seasonal details to read from the main viewing direction. Its evergreen framework can also keep a mixed border from looking empty when surrounding perennials are dormant.
Avoid using fruiting nandina near natural areas in parts of the Southeast, where it can spread beyond the intended planting. Before committing it to a large drift or property-edge planting, check local guidance and consider a non-fruiting cultivar where it is appropriate. Its underground spread can also make removal more involved than simply lifting the visible stems.[1][2]
Editorial content updated 2026-07-20.