Blush Nandina

Blush Nandina (Nandina domestica 'AKA') is a dwarf sacred bamboo grown for foliage colour rather than flowers. It holds a neat mound about 60cm tall and 60cm wide, with fine lacy leaves that flush pink and red on the new growth and deepen through the cold months. It is tough enough for a hot driveway strip and tidy enough for a front border.

Why you'll love it

• Colour without flowering. New growth comes through pink to red and the whole plant takes on deeper tones in winter, so the display runs for months rather than weeks.
• It stays where you put it. At around 60cm each way it will not outgrow a border, a letterbox bed or a courtyard pot.
• Genuinely low input. Frost hardy, drought tolerant, heat tolerant and content in poor soil, so it survives the spots irrigation never quite reaches.
• An unusually wide climate range. Cool temperate through warm temperate to subtropical and Mediterranean gardens, which covers most of the country's settled areas.

Where it works best

Borders and edging. Plant 40cm apart for a continuous border. At that spacing the mounds knit into one soft line while each plant keeps its own shape.

Mass planting. The same 40cm spacing suits a block planting under trees or along a driveway, giving roughly six plants per square metre and a colour drift that shifts with the seasons.

Pots and small gardens. One plant suits a 400mm pot, and because growth is slow it holds its shape there for years without root pruning.

Growing Blush Nandina in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the strongest red and pink tones; part shade is fine but the colouring stays softer and greener. It is frost hardy, so cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens suit it well, and it also handles subtropical heat and humidity.

Soil. Adaptable, including clay and poor soil, provided water moves through. On heavy ground plant slightly proud and work compost into the bed. Mulch 75mm deep, clear of the stems.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first summer, then step back to occasional watering in dry spells. A controlled release fertiliser in early spring is enough for the season.

Pruning. Do not shear it like a hedge, since that leaves cut leaf ends showing. Instead cut a few of the oldest canes back to the base each spring, which pushes fresh coloured growth from below.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in four sizes: tube, 140mm in packs of ten, 180mm in packs of six and 200mm in packs of six. Tubes are the value choice for a long border and take a season longer to fill out. The 180mm and 200mm plants carry several canes and read as a proper shrub from the day they go in.

Growth is slow and steady, so expect the border to close over two seasons rather than one. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Choosing the right edging plants
• Browse plants with autumn colour
• Compare plants for mass planting
• Plants that change colour through the year

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a border?

Plant 40cm apart in a single row, or about six plants per square metre for a block. Closer spacing does not close the gap faster and makes watering harder.

Is it safe for pets?

No. Nandina is considered toxic to cats and dogs, so we do not list it as pet friendly. This dwarf form rarely fruits, which removes the berry risk, but keep it away from pets that chew plants.

Why has my plant gone green?

Too much shade is the usual reason. The pink and red tones depend on strong light and cool nights, so a plant in a shaded bed stays green through the year.