Obsession Nandina

Obsession Nandina (Nandina domestica 'Seika') is a dwarf sacred bamboo grown for one thing: brilliant red new growth that appears in flushes through the year against older foliage of deep green. It is compact and tidy at about 75cm tall and 60cm wide, and it seldom flowers or fruits, so there is no berry litter and no unwanted seedlings. As a low border that never needs shaping, it is hard to beat.

Why you'll love it

• Red new growth all year. Each flush comes through bright red and deepens to green as it hardens, so the plant carries colour without a flowering season.
• Compact and self shaping. At 75cm it stays a low border by nature, with no clipping needed to hold the height.
• Tough in difficult positions. Frost hardy, heat tolerant, drought tolerant once established and content in poor soil.
• Seldom sets seed. Unlike the common species, this selection rarely fruits, so it will not seed itself into a garden bed or a bushland edge.

Where it works best

Borders and edging. Plant 50cm apart for a continuous low border. At that spacing the clumps meet within two seasons and hold an even line along a path or driveway.

Mass planting. The same 50cm spacing works across a bed or a slope, where the red flushes ripple through the planting rather than sitting on one plant.

Pots and small gardens. A 400mm pot holds a single plant well and suits an entry, a balcony or a courtyard where a full sized shrub would crowd the space.

Growing Obsession Nandina in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the strongest red; in part shade the new growth is softer and the plant runs greener. It is at home in subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens, and being frost hardy it colours particularly well through a cold winter.

Soil. Almost anything, including poor and compacted ground, provided water can get away. Improve heavy clay with compost and mulch 75mm deep, kept clear of the crown.

Water and feed. Water twice a week through the first summer, then only in dry spells once established. A complete slow release fertiliser in early spring keeps the flushes coming, while overfeeding produces soft green growth and dulls the colour.

Pruning. Do not shear the top. Cut the oldest canes right back to ground level in late winter, a third of them at most, and the plant renews itself from the base with fresh red growth.

What to expect when it arrives

This nandina is grown from tube stock through 140mm, 200mm and 250mm pots, with the larger sizes supplied in multi plant packs. Tubes and 140mm plants are the economical way to plant a long border. The 200mm and 250mm sizes go in with real presence and are the better pick for pots or a short run.

It is slow growing, so be patient in the first year while the root system builds. Some leaf bronzing after transit is normal. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, and every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Low growing plants for borders and edging
• Compare plants suited to mass planting
• Browse plants for small gardens
• Shop other low maintenance shrubs

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a border?

50cm apart in a single row. That spacing gives a continuous low band within two seasons while leaving each plant room to renew from the base.

Is it safe around pets?

The berries of the species are toxic to cats and dogs. This selection seldom fruits, which reduces the risk considerably, but it is not a plant we would call pet safe.

Does it lose its leaves in winter?

No, it is evergreen. In cold districts the foliage takes on deeper red and bronze tones through winter, then greens up again with the spring flush.