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Nandina
A popular evergreen landscape shrub that's actually an invasive with cyanide-laced red berries known to kill cedar waxwings and other birds. Never plant it; this entry is for identifying and controlling it.
Safety notes Nandina is grown for looks, not food, and its bright red berries are toxic: they contain cyanide-producing compounds and have been documented killing cedar waxwings and other birds that gorge on them in winter, and they can poison cats, dogs, and livestock. Keep the berries away from pets, and consider removing berry clusters even on existing plants to protect birds. Beyond the poison, nandina is invasive, spreading into woodlands by bird-dropped seed and root suckers. Do not plant it.
Overview
Nandina (Nandina domestica), sold as 'heavenly bamboo', is one of the most common evergreen landscape shrubs in the South - and both an invasive and a poisoning hazard to wildlife. Despite its nickname it isn't a bamboo at all (it's a relative of barberry), but its erect cane-like stems and lacy foliage give it a bamboo-like look that made it a nursery staple. It escapes gardens via bird-dropped seed and spreads locally by root suckers, invading woodlands and edges across the Southeast.
Its most alarming trait is its berries. Nandina's bright red winter berries contain cyanide-producing compounds, and they have been documented killing cedar waxwings and other birds that gorge on them in late winter when other food is scarce - and they can poison cats, dogs, and livestock as well. This entry is here to help you recognize and control nandina, and to steer you to native shrubs instead. If you have an existing plant, one immediate, meaningful step is to remove the berry clusters to protect birds - and to plan its removal and replacement with a native. Never plant it.
The one thing to knowNandina (Nandina domestica), sold as 'heavenly bamboo', is one of the most common evergreen landscape shrubs in the South - and both an invasive and a poisoning hazard to wildlife.
Quick facts
For identification. Not a growing guide.
- Height
- 72 inRange: 24–96 in
- Spread
- 48 inRange: 18–72 in
- Cold
- Takes hard frostdamaged below -10°F
- Heat
- Struggles above 105°F
- Life cycle
- Perennial, lives about 40 years
- Self-sows
- Yes. Never let it set seed.
- Habitat
- Full sun · Part sun · Part shade · Shade, well-drained soil
Through the year
A field guide through time
Explore the stages to recognize this plant throughout its life.
Stage 1 of 3 · The recurring year
Evergreen cane growth (identify & control)
year-round, every year
Know this stage
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Recognize it: bamboo-like canes, lacy compound leaves
Nandina is an evergreen shrub with erect, unbranched, bamboo-like canes and large, lacy, twice- or thrice-divided (bi- to tripinnate) compound leaves of many pointed leaflets, often flushed red or purple in cool weather. Despite the name 'heavenly bamboo' it is NOT a bamboo (it's a barberry relative). Clumps of cane-like stems with lacy foliage and red winter leaves and berries are the giveaway.
-
Dig clumps and suckers, cut-stump-treat larger stems
Dig out clumps and root suckers, getting the roots, and pull seedlings when soil is moist. For established clumps, cut canes and treat the cut stems/stumps with herbicide, or use foliar herbicide on regrowth - it resprouts from the roots and suckers if only cut. Remove berry clusters first to protect birds and stop seed. Bag berries and dispose of them; never let seed spread.
Months are typical seasonal windows; climate, variety, and plant age can shift them.
Hazards
Woodland Invasion (ecological harm)Severity High DisordernowSeason: year-roundNandina seedlings in shaded woodlands away from any planting, and clumps expanding by suckers into natural areas and edges.
Nandina seedlings in shaded woodlands away from any planting, and clumps expanding by suckers into natural areas and edges.
Dig clumps and suckers or cut-stump/foliar-treat regrowth (it resprouts if only cut), remove seed source, and follow up on suckers and seedlings.
Never plant it; remove berries to cut off seed; dig out clumps and suckers before they spread.
The ecological hazard: shade-tolerant and evergreen, nandina escapes gardens by bird-dropped seed and spreads by root suckers into woodland understory and edges, crowding out native shrubs and wildflowers across the Southeast.
Cyanide Berries (bird & pet poisoning)Severity High DisorderSeason: Nov–MarFlocks of cedar waxwings or robins stripping nandina berries in late winter, and pets near fallen berries; dead birds beneath fruiting plants.
Flocks of cedar waxwings or robins stripping nandina berries in late winter, and pets near fallen berries; dead birds beneath fruiting plants.
Cut and bag berry clusters to stop the hazard; for pet ingestion contact a veterinarian; remove the plant to end the recurring risk.
Remove berry clusters even on existing plants; keep berries from pets; ultimately remove the plant and replace with safe natives.
A serious wildlife and pet hazard: nandina's persistent red berries contain cyanide-producing compounds and have been documented killing cedar waxwings and other birds that gorge on them in late winter, and they can poison cats, dogs, and livestock.
Grower tips
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