Nandina ‘Curly Obsessed’

Nandina 'Curly Obsessed' (Nandina domestica 'Curly Obsessed') is a dwarf sacred bamboo grown for one thing: twisted, crinkled foliage that flushes bright red on every new shoot. It settles at about 700mm tall and 600mm wide, which makes it a border plant rather than a shrub you have to manage. Colour runs red through the cold months and softens to green in the warmth.

Why you'll love it

• Red new growth, all year. Every flush opens bright red before hardening off, so the plant is never entirely plain green.
• Curled foliage with real texture. The twisted leaflets catch light differently to the flat leaved nandinas, which is the reason to choose this one.
• It stays small. At 700mm by 600mm it holds its size without shearing, unlike most shrubs sold as a low border.
• Strong autumn and winter colour. Cold weather deepens the whole plant to red, exactly when most gardens have nothing else going on. It is frost hardy, heat tolerant and content in poor soil.

Where it works best

Borders and edging. Plant 50cm apart for a continuous low border. At that spacing the plants knit into an unbroken ribbon along a path or driveway edge within two seasons.

Mass planting. In a bed of any size, set it out in a staggered grid at the same 50cm spacing. It is one of the few mass planting shrubs that gives seasonal colour with no flowers to deadhead.

Pots and small gardens. A 400mm pot suits a single plant for years, and a matched pair either side of a door works well.

Growing Nandina 'Curly Obsessed' in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the strongest red. Part shade is tolerated, but the colour stays muted and the plant grows looser. It suits cool temperate, warm temperate, subtropical and Mediterranean gardens, and cold is an advantage: the winter red is far deeper in frost prone districts than in the subtropics.

Soil. Not fussy, provided water drains away. It tolerates poor soil, though a bed opened up with compost establishes noticeably faster. Mulch to 75mm, kept clear of the canes.

Water and feed. Water twice a week through the first summer, then taper to moderate watering. It is drought tolerant once established without being a plant you can abandon. Slow release fertiliser in early spring is all it asks.

Pruning. Very little. Cut the oldest canes out at ground level every second year so the clump keeps renewing, rather than shearing the top.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown as tubestock, in 140mm pots by the pack of ten, in 200mm pots by the pack of six and in 250mm pots by the pack of three. Tubes are the value choice for a long border and take about two seasons to fill out. The 200mm and 250mm plants are already multi caned.

Nandina travels well, though some leaf drop and bronzing after transit is normal rather than a fault. Expect roughly 150mm to 200mm of growth a year. Delivered Australia wide, delivery from $29.95, minimum order of $300 before delivery, with our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read our guide to low growing border plants for layout ideas.
• Browse the autumn colour range for plants that shift with the season.
• Compare other low maintenance shrubs at a similar size.
• See what else suits small gardens and courtyards.

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a border?

50cm apart in a single row. That is close enough for the foliage to meet into a solid band, and far enough that each plant keeps its rounded shape instead of stretching upward.

Is nandina safe around pets?

No. Nandina foliage and berries are toxic to cats and dogs, so this is not the plant for a yard where an animal grazes on shrubs. Choose from our range of plants safe for pets instead.

Will it lose its leaves in winter?

No, it is evergreen. The foliage changes colour rather than dropping, deepening to red through the cold months and greening again as the weather warms.