Question: I have Nandina in several of my garden beds. Is it an invasive plant and if it is, how do I control it? What are some alternative plants with berries?
Nandina domestica, also called heavenly or sacred bamboo, was brought to the U.S. from Asia in the early 1800s as an ornamental shrub. Native to China, Japan, and India, it is known for its bright red berries, showy, drooping clusters of small white flowers and colorful fall foliage. Although its cane-like stems and leaves resemble bamboo, Nandina is not a bamboo. It is a small erect evergreen shrub belonging to the Berberidaceae (barberry) family. In cold climates, it may lose its leaves in the fall. Although it is not yet listed on the Virginia Invasive Plant Species List, it is considered an invasive plant in some southeastern states in the U.S. and is regarded as a nuisance in other states, including Virginia. It is found in 26 states as far north as New York State and as far west as Oregon and California.
An invasive plant species is non-native and is likely to cause economic harm, environmental harm, or harm to human health. Nandina exhibits many of the characteristics common to invasive plants. It is not native to the U.S., grows well in disturbed areas, spreads vegetatively and escapes cultivation, tolerates a variety of soils and growing conditions, and has no serious insect or disease problems. In addition, because all parts of the plant are poisonous, Nandina provides little or no food for birds and other wildlife and is toxic in large quantities to humans, grazing animals, dogs, cats and some birds, including Cedar Waxwings. It grows up to 8 feet tall and forms dense thickets. With its rapid growth, it can replace native plant communities and alter or destroy habitat that provide food and shelter for a variety of wildlife and insects.
Control Methods
Controlling the spread of Nandina is problematic. The best approach is to remove existing Nandina shrubs before fruits develop. If berries are present, first collect the berries by laying a tarp down or using a large bag to catch the berries as they are cut off the plant. Then dig up the plants making sure to remove as much of the plant’s roots as possible. Since new plants can grow from the smallest section of root left in the ground, you will likely need to remove new sprouts for years. To dispose of the plants, place berries and roots in a thick black or clear plastic bag. Place in the sun for several weeks until decomposition begins and then discard in your garbage or take to the landfill. Do not put these plants in your compost or yard waste.
Another option is to spot treat with chemicals. Before choosing any chemical control, consult Virginia Cooperative Extension’s integrated pest management guide to make sure you use the appropriate herbicide and method of application. Alternatively, you can hire a landscaper to remove the plant manually or find a certified professional to apply a chemical treatment. Unfortunately, no biological control methods are known. Remember that new plants may not thrive if planted in a location where chemicals have been recently applied.
Replacing Nandina With Native Plants
Native plants are fully adapted to the local climate and soils and support biodiversity by providing habitat that our pollinators and other wildlife need. Planting different types of native species can support a wide variety of wildlife while reducing the spread of invasive plants. Once established, native plants are easier to grow and cheaper to maintain. They require less watering, fertilizers, and pesticides, all of which protect water quality by reducing erosion and pollutant and nutrient runoff to our local waterways. In addition to these practical and ecological benefits, they provide year-round beauty to the landscape.
Alternatives to Nandina
There are many shrubs native to Virginia that have showy flowers, beautiful berries and fall color. Some of these bushes are dioecious, meaning the individual plants have either male (staminate) or female (pistillate) flowers. In those cases, you will need a male bush to pollinate the female fruit-bearing bushes. For those varieties, be sure to check the plant label or ask at the local nursery. The recommendations below note the color of the plants mature berries.
Evergreen shrubs:
- Ilex opaca (American holly) – red berries
- Ilex glabra (Inkberry) – black berries
- Morella cerifera (Southern bayberry/wax myrtle) – silvery berries
Deciduous (winter leaf-shedding) shrubs:
- Ilex verticillata (Winterberry) – red berries
- Aronia arbutifolia (Red chokeberry) – red berries
- Lindera benzoin (Spicebush) – red berries
- Callicarpa americana (American beautyberry) – purple berries
- Ilex decidua (Possum haw) – orangish red berries
Before you choose your native shrub alternatives, do a soil test and add any amendments necessary to build healthy soil. Be sure to consider the site conditions (sunny or shady, moist or dry, good or poor drainage, space available, growing habit, etc.) and pick the right plant for the right place. Fall is a good time to plant shrubs as summer heat abates, rainfall generally increases and the soil is still warm enough to encourage root growth.
Interested in information on other native shrubs? The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation provides a native plant finder to help you select plants for your specific location and needs. Conduct a search by scientific or common name, or by region, plant type, uses, light, moisture, maximum height, species, or plants for pollinators. For more online resources, check out the Piedmont Master Gardener native plants webpage for lists of plants native to Northern Piedmont, site-specific plant lists, native plant search tools and a list of local retailers for native plants.
As gardeners, we can do our part to help our human spaces foster both beauty, biodiversity and healthy ecosystems. A bird’s nest or a tiny cocoon doesn’t take up much space. Every garden bed, regardless the size, can be a hospitable place for pollinators and other wildlife when planted with this goal in mind.
References:
“Guidelines for Disposing of Invasive Plant Material,” New York State, Department of Environmental Conservation, 27 Jun 2019.
“How to Remove Heavenly Bamboo,” Trees Atlanta, 2023.
“Nandina: A “Dirty Dozen” Plant”, Coffey, Sarah, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, 4 Mar 2021.
“Nandina Berries Kill Birds”, Davis, Jerry W, Audubon Delta, 28 Jan 2016.
“Nandina domestica”, North Carolina State, NC State Extension.
“Nandina (Nandina domestica)” University of Florida/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants, YouTube video.
“Benefits of Native Plants ,” Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, 26 Feb 2021.
“Plant This, Not That: Replacing Nandina,” Morel, Alyssa Ford, Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia, 11 Nov 2020.
“Why Use Native Plants?,” Hubbard, Pamela, Penn State University, Penn State Extension, 5 Jul 2023.