Heavenly Bamboo 'Obsessed'
Nandina domestica 'Obsessed'
Heavenly Bamboo 'Obsessed'
Nandina domestica 'Obsessed' is one of the most colourful compact shrubs you can grow, a dwarf selection of the much-loved heavenly bamboo that earns its place for foliage alone. Despite the common name it is not a bamboo at all, but a member of the Berberidaceae family from eastern Asia, prized for the way its finely divided, lacy leaves shift through a living palette of colour from one season to the next.
The great attraction of this nandina obsessed form is the new growth, which emerges a brilliant, almost fluorescent red before maturing to fresh green through summer. As the temperatures fall, the whole plant flushes red and orange again, holding that fiery winter colour right through the coldest months. Small sprays of creamy white flowers appear in early summer, and while nandina domestica obsessed is a shy-fruiting foliage form, it occasionally sets a few red berries.
How and where to grow
This is an easy, rewarding shrub for almost any garden. Give it a position in full sun for the strongest red tones, or partial shade where the colours stay a little softer. It is happy in most soils, including chalk, clay, loam and sand across the full pH range, provided the ground is moist but well-drained.
- Compact habit, reaching only around 0.6 to 1 m tall and wide
- Evergreen in most gardens, semi-evergreen in colder spots
- Fully hardy (RHS H5), needing no winter protection once established
- Excellent in borders, low hedging, gravel schemes and patio pots
Because nandina stays so neat and well-behaved, it needs very little pruning, just the occasional removal of any tired older stems in spring. Its modest size makes it ideal for containers, where the changing foliage can be enjoyed up close by a doorway or seating area. Water regularly through the first season to settle the roots, after which it copes well with drier spells.
Every nandina domestica 'Obsessed' we send out is a strong, well-rooted, nursery-grown plant, carefully selected and packed to arrive in superb condition and ready to bring year-round colour to your garden.
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Yes, it is fully hardy across the UK with an RHS rating of H5, coping with frosts down to around -10 to -15C once established. It needs no winter protection in most gardens, and the cold often deepens the red of its foliage.
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Plant it in full sun for the most vivid red foliage, or partial shade where the colours will be a touch softer. A sheltered position in moist but well-drained soil suits it perfectly, and it works well in borders, near patios or in containers.
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It is a compact, dwarf form reaching only about 0.6 to 1 m tall and roughly 0.6 to 0.9 m wide over several years. Its naturally neat, mounded habit means it rarely needs much pruning to stay tidy.
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Yes, it is evergreen in most UK gardens, holding its foliage through winter, though in very cold or exposed spots it can become semi-evergreen. The year-round leaves are the main attraction, glowing red on new growth and again in autumn and winter.
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Absolutely. Its compact size makes it ideal for containers on a patio or by a doorway. Use a loam-based compost, keep it watered in summer, and feed in spring, repotting or top-dressing every couple of years.
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The berries contain cyanogenic compounds and can be harmful to cats, dogs and other animals if eaten in quantity. 'Obsessed' is a shy-fruiting foliage form so produces few if any berries, but it is still wise to site it sensibly if you have curious pets.
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We always aim to make sure our customers love our products, but if you do need to return an order within 14 days of purchase (not including plants*), or any items are damaged, we’re happy to help. Just email us directly at hello@growtropicals.com, and we’ll take you through the process.
Please note: we cannot be held liable for any packaging costs should the original packaging be discarded.
*Unfortunately we cannot accept returns of undamaged plants as these are perishable items and are not saleable upon return. If a plant is damaged, we will compensate for this as per our live arrival guarantee. -
When placing your order, you can choose from three dispatch speeds to suit your needs: Economy (prepared and shipped within 4-5 days), Standard (3-5 days), or Express (dispatched the very next day). Please keep in mind that "dispatch" refers to the time it takes our team to prepare and pack your items before handing them over to the courier, not the total delivery time.
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