Nandina ‘Moonbay’

Nandina 'Moonbay' (Nandina domestica 'Moonbay') is the dwarf sacred bamboo for gardeners who want the colour without the berries. New growth opens a clear lime green and the whole plant turns deep red as the weather cools, on a tidy dome about 700mm tall and 600mm wide. It sets no fruit, so there is nothing to drop on paving and nothing for birds to spread into bushland.

Why you'll love it

• Lime green new growth. Each flush opens a bright fresh green that lifts a bed of darker foliage, then hardens to a mid green.
• Red through the cold months. As temperatures drop the whole plant colours to a deep red and holds it until spring.
• Non fruiting. No berries means no seedlings, no staining under the plant and no self sowing into bushland.
• Hard to kill, and it holds its size. A neat 700mm by 600mm dome that never needs shearing, frost hardy, heat tolerant and untroubled by poor soil.

Where it works best

Borders and edging. Plant 50cm apart for a continuous low border. The dome shape means the row reads as an even ribbon rather than a lumpy line, which matters along a straight path.

Mass planting. Set in a staggered grid at 50cm spacing it covers ground in two seasons and gives a colour change twice a year, with no deadheading and no cutting back.

Pots and small gardens. A 300mm to 400mm pot holds one plant for several years. In a small courtyard it does the job of a clipped ball without the clipping.

Growing Nandina 'Moonbay' in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun for the strongest colour at both ends, lime and red. Part shade is tolerated with weaker colour and looser growth. It suits cool temperate, warm temperate, subtropical and Mediterranean gardens, and cold is an asset: the winter red is far deeper in a frost prone garden.

Soil. Undemanding, as long as water moves through it. It handles poor soil, but compost worked through the bed at planting speeds establishment. Mulch 75mm deep and keep it off the canes.

Water and feed. Moderate water: twice weekly through the first summer, then a deep soak during dry spells. Slow release fertiliser in early spring keeps the flush strong, and more than that is wasted.

Pruning. Remove the oldest canes at ground level every second winter so new ones come through. Avoid shearing the top, which cuts off the flush points and leaves a flat, unnatural outline.

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 economical option for a long run and take two seasons to close up. The 200mm and 250mm plants come already multi caned and look established from the day they go in.

Expect a little leaf drop and some bronzing on the outer foliage, neither of which is a fault. Growth is steady, around 150mm to 200mm 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

• See which plants change colour through the year.
• Browse more mass planting plants for large beds.
• Compare the autumn colour collection for seasonal contrast.
• See other plants that suit pots for a balcony or courtyard.

Common questions

Does it produce berries?

No. 'Moonbay' is a non fruiting selection, which is the main reason to choose it over an older nandina. There is no fruit drop to clean up and no risk of seedlings appearing elsewhere.

Is it safe for cats and dogs?

No. Nandina foliage is toxic to pets even on a non fruiting form, so it is best avoided in a yard where an animal chews plants.

Why is my plant green rather than red?

Either the weather is still warm or the position is too shaded. Red is a response to cold and sunlight, so a plant in part shade in a subtropical garden stays mostly green.