Flower profile
Heavenly bamboo
Nandina domestica
Heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica) is a shrub in the Berberidaceae family, introduced in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly May–June across the U.S.
Heavenly bamboo is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 10 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in May–June.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026. Our state lists also include states where people grow it in gardens, so they can outnumber USDA's wild-plant records.
On our lists for: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas
Quick look
Nandina domestica commonly known as nandina, heavenly bamboo or sacred bamboo, is a species of flowering plant in the family Berberidaceae, native to eastern Asia from the Himalayas to Japan. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Nandina. Despite its name, it is not a true bamboo.
- It belongs to the Berberidaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 9 states. USDA PLANTS
- In Texas, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–May. iNaturalist
- In North Carolina, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–June. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as white. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as early summer. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 8 ft. USDA PLANTS
- iNaturalist has 12,395 research-grade sightings of it in Texas, ranking #42 among the 169 flowers on our Texas list. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 3,495 research-grade sightings of it in North Carolina, ranking #42 among the 192 flowers on our North Carolina list. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 2,626 research-grade sightings of it in Georgia, ranking #20 among the 183 flowers on our Georgia list. iNaturalist
When does it bloom?
Bloom time in the 10 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
| State | Type | Peak bloom | Sightings* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | Introduced | April–May | 12,395 |
| North Carolina | Introduced | May–June | 3,495 |
| Georgia | Introduced | few records (14) | 2,626 |
| Alabama | Introduced | few records (9) | 1,998 |
| Tennessee | Introduced | few records (3) | 1,209 |
| Arkansas | Introduced | few records (16) | 1,194 |
| South Carolina | Introduced | few records (7) | 1,102 |
| Louisiana | Introduced | few records (3) | 525 |
| Mississippi | Introduced | few records (9) | 442 |
| Oklahoma | Introduced | few records (1) | 366 |
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. NatureServe
- State rare plant lists
- Not listed Not on the official rare plant list in 4 of our 10 states.
See each state
- Texas
- Not listed Not on Texas endangered and threatened plants (31 Tex. Admin. Code § 69.8), as listed by Texas Parks and Wildlife. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Texas. 31 TAC 69.8
- North Carolina
- Not listed Not on North Carolina Protected Plant Species List (02 NCAC 48F .0301). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in North Carolina. 02 NCAC 48F .0301
- Georgia
- Not listed Not on Georgia protected plants (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-4-10-.09; a 2026 update is proposed). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Georgia. Ga. R. 391-4-10-.09
- Tennessee
- Not listed Not on Tennessee endangered plants (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0400-06-02-.04, Rare Plant Protection and Conservation Act). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Tennessee. TN rule 0400-06-02-.04
- Alabama
- No list Alabama has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Alabama ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Alabama.
- Arkansas
- No list Arkansas has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Arkansas ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Arkansas.
- South Carolina
- No list South Carolina has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's South Carolina ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in South Carolina.
- Louisiana
- No list Louisiana has no state list of endangered or threatened plants separate from the federal list, so we show federal status and NatureServe's Louisiana ranks. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Louisiana.
- Mississippi
- No list Mississippi has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Mississippi ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Mississippi.
- Oklahoma
- No list Oklahoma has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Oklahoma ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Oklahoma.
- Rare elsewhere
- No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: high). Poisonous parts: fruits, leaves, stems. Symptoms they list: “Hydrogen cyanide is highly poisonous if ingested in quantity. All parts are toxic to humans, cats, dogs, livestock, horses, and birds such as the Cedar Waxwing. Weakness, incoordination, seizures, coma, respiratory failure, and death can occur from ingestion.” They also note: “Berries are poisonous if ingested.” NC State Extension
ASPCA's entry “Heavenly Bamboo” (Nandina domestica) lists it as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Signs include: Weakness, incoordination, seizures, coma, respiratory failure, death (rare in… ASPCA
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS records heavenly bamboo in 9 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia.
Texas counties with USDA records: Brazos, Dallas, Gillespie, Grayson, Harris, Liberty, Madison, McLennan, Montgomery, Tarrant, Travis, Walker.
North Carolina counties with USDA records: Guilford, Orange.
Growing conditions
USDA PLANTS gives Heavenly bamboo a low shade tolerance, low drought tolerance and high moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 4.5 to 6.0 and winter lows down to 2 °F.
- Shade tolerance
- Low
- Drought tolerance
- Low
- Moisture use
- High
- Soil textures it is adapted to
- coarse, medium, fine
- Soil pH range
- 4.5 to 6.0
- Minimum temperature tolerated
- 2 °F
- Frost-free days needed (minimum)
- 165
- Annual precipitation range
- 35 to 55 inches
- Minimum root depth
- 20 inches
- Salinity tolerance
- Medium
- Fertility requirement
- High
- Growth rate
- Rapid
- Lifespan
- Moderate
- Active growth period
- Spring and Summer
- Fruit or seed
- Red · Summer to Fall
- Can be propagated by
- bare root, container, cuttings, seed, sprigs
- Commercial availability
- Routinely Available
From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for NADO. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.
Names, range and relatives
Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Lower 48 states: Introduced; Pacific Basin (excluding Hawaii): Introduced.
County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 52 counties across 6 states; the most are in Louisiana (24), Texas (12), Alabama (5).
More from the Berberidaceae family (12 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Mayapple, Japanese barberry, Agarita, Creeping mahonia, Oregon grape, Cascade oregon-grape, Leatherleaf mahonia, Twinleaf.
More Texas flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile NADO.
- iNaturalist, Nandina domestica: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Nandina (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- State rare and invasive plant lists (12):
Show all 12 state lists
- Texas: Texas endangered and threatened plants (31 Tex. Admin. Code § 69.8), as listed by Texas Parks and Wildlife.
- Texas: Texas noxious and invasive plant list (4 Tex. Admin. Code § 19.300(a)).
- North Carolina: North Carolina Protected Plant Species List (02 NCAC 48F .0301).
- North Carolina: North Carolina Noxious Weed List (02 NCAC 48A .1702) (the list names any non-native Lythrum; we apply it to purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), which isn't native).
- Georgia: Georgia protected plants (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-4-10-.09; a 2026 update is proposed).
- Alabama: Alabama noxious weeds (Ala. Admin. Code r. 80-10-14-.04).
- Tennessee: Tennessee endangered plants (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0400-06-02-.04, Rare Plant Protection and Conservation Act).
- Tennessee: Tennessee Pest Plant List (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0080-06-24-.02).
- Arkansas: Arkansas State Plant Board noxious weeds and prohibited plants (2 CAR § 50-101).
- South Carolina: South Carolina State Plant Pest List, plants (S.C. Code Regs. 27-135; Clemson Dept. of Plant Industry).
- Mississippi: Mississippi Noxious Weed List (2 Miss. Code R. 1-3-01-136.01).
- Oklahoma: Oklahoma Noxious Weed Law (2 O.S. § 3-220).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Nandina domestica (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension; ASPCA.
- Photo: Lexi Amico via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.