PlantPeers
Back to Catalog
No image available
Berberidaceae FAMILY

Nandina domestica

Nandina domestica

Edibility
2/5
Medicinal
3/5

Safety & Hazards

The fruit is poisonous[1].All parts of the plant contain toxic substances, including hydrocyanic acid and nandenine[2]. The fruits contain cyanide, and there is a report of numerous cedar waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum) dying from ingestion of large amounts of the fruits in southern N. America[3],

Cultivation Details

HabitEvergreen Shrub
Growth—

Nandina domestica is a native of the warm temperate and subtropical regions of central and southern China. It can succeed under a wide range of temperature conditions, including tropical, but does not generally succeed in regions of the temperate zone that are colder than its native habitat. Young plants are especially subject to cold damage, whilst the shoot tips even of mature plants can be damaged by hard frosts[4, 5, 6, 7]. Some forms of the plant have been known to tolerate temperatures down to -14°c[3]. The plant can tolerate a mean annual rainfall in the range 300 - 1,600mm[3]. Requires a deep rich moist but well-drained soil in a sheltered sunny position[5, 7, 3]. Prefers a cool but sunny position[7]. Established plants are moderately drought resistant[3]. A very ornamental plant, a number of named forms have been developed for their ornamental value[8]. The plant fruits in the winter and has often been used as a Christmas decoration in the same way as holly (Ilex aquifolium)[9]. Untidy old stems on established plants can be pruned to the base in spring[10]. The plant is cultivated for its fruit in China and Japan[11] (the fruit is barely edible, so does this refer to medicinal usage?[PFAF]). Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[7].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a greenhouse[12]. Stored seed requires a period of cold stratification and should be sown as early in the year as possible in a frame. Germination is often poor[200. 1093]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood 10 - 15cm long, mid summer in a frame[13]. Pot up in the autumn and overwinter in a cold frame. Plant out in late spring. High percentage[13] but very slow[5]. Cuttings of mature wood, 10 - 15cm with a heel, late autumn in a frame[13]. Plant out the following autumn[13, 7]. High percentage[13] but very slow[5]. Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2026-02-21. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Nandina+domestica>

Pollinators

Data unavailable

References

  1. [1]A Barefoot Doctors Manual. — ? · Running Press; Philadelphica. · 1977 · ISBN 0-914294-92-X ↩︎A very readable herbal from China, combining some modern methods with traditional chinese methods.
  2. [2]Medicinal Plants of China — Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. · Reference Publications, Inc. · 1985 · ISBN 0-917256-20-4 ↩︎Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject.
  3. [3]Invasive Species Compendium — http://www.cabi.org ↩︎An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
  4. [4]RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 — F. Chittendon. · Oxford University Press · 1951 · ISBN - ↩︎Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [ 200 ]).
  5. [5]Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. — Bean. W. · Murray · 1981 · ISBN - ↩︎A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
  6. [6]Trees and Shrubs in Cornwall. — Thurston. ↩︎Trees and shrubs that succeed in Cornwall based on the authors own observations. Good but rather dated.
  7. [7]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
  8. [8]Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. — Thomas. G. S. · Murray · 1992 · ISBN 0-7195-5043-2 ↩︎Contains a wide range of plants with a brief description, mainly of their ornamental value but also usually of cultivation details and varieties.
  9. [9]Chinese Materia Medica. — Stuart. Rev. G. A. · Taipei. Southern Materials Centre · 1911 · ISBN - ↩︎A translation of an ancient Chinese herbal. Fascinating.
  10. [10]The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers — Brickell. C. · Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. · 1990 · ISBN 0-86318-386-7 ↩︎Excellent range of photographs, some cultivation details but very little information on plant uses.
  11. [11]Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. — Hedrick. U. P. · Dover Publications · 1972 · ISBN 0-486-20459-6 ↩︎Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.
  12. [12]The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. — Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. · Athens Ga. Varsity Press · 1987 · ISBN 0942375009 ↩︎A very detailed book on propagating trees. Not for the casual reader.
  13. [13]Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. — Sheat. W. G. · MacMillan and Co · 1948 · ISBN - ↩︎A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.
  14. [14]Flora of Japan. (English translation) — Ohwi. G. · Smithsonian Institution · 1965 · ISBN - ↩︎The standard work. Brilliant, but not for the casual reader.
  15. [15]Flora of China — Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. · 1994 · http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ ↩︎An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
  16. [16]Plants for Human Consumption. — Kunkel. G. · Koeltz Scientific Books · 1984 · ISBN 3874292169 ↩︎An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of Latin names with a brief list of edible parts.
  17. [17]Tanaka's Cyclopedia of Edible Plants of the World. — Tanaka. T. & Nakao S. · Keigaku Publishing; Tokyo · 1976 · ISBN - ↩︎The most comprehensive list of edible plants I've come across. Only the briefest entry for each species, though, and some of the entries are more than a little dubious. Not for the casual reader.
  18. [18]Atlas of Medicinal Plants. — Kariyone. T. · Nihon Rinshosha; Osaka · 1973 ↩︎A good Japanese herbal.
  19. [PFAF]Plants for a Future — pfaf.org ↩︎