Nandina domestica
Sacred Bamboo
a perennial woody evergreen member of the Nandina genus in the family Berberidaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Berberidaceae
- Genus
- Nandina
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- evergreen
- Woodiness
- woody
- Height
- 2.5 m
- Spread
- 2 m
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
Uses
Toxicity
Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The fruit is poisonous[5].All parts of the plant contain toxic substances, including hydrocyanic acid and nandenine[12].
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Fruit[10]. No further details are given, but another report says that the fruit is poisonous[5]. The fruit is about 10mm in diameter[11]. Young leaves - boiled[7]. The water must be changed at least once during the cooking[2].
- Plant part
- Fruit
- Plant part
- Leaves
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The roots and stems are antitussive, astringent, febrifuge, stomachic and tonic[5][6]. A decoction is used in the treatment of fever in influenza, acute bronchitis, whooping cough, indigestion, acute gastro-enteritis, tooth abscess, pain in the bones and muscles and traumatic injuries[5]. It is especially useful in the treatment of children's coughs[6]. There is a danger that an overdose can cause respiratory paralysis[6]. A decoction of the leaves is tonic[12]. The fruit is febrifuge and tonic[12]. Another report says that it is toxic, so great care should be employed if using it[5]. The root is antirheumatic[12]. Young shoots contain high concentrations of laetrile - up to 20% on a zero moisture basis[12].
- Product or use
- Antirheumatic
- Product or use
- Antitussive
- Product or use
- Astringent
- Product or use
- Febrifuge
- Product or use
- Stomachic
- Product or use
- Tonic
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Plants are used for hedging in warm temperate zones[11].
Ecology and functions
Environment
- Range
- E. Asia - China, Japan and India.
- Habitat
- Ravines and valleys in mountains and warmer parts of C. and S. Japan[13].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 7+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a greenhouse[4]. Stored seed should be sown as early in the year as possible in a greenhouse. Germination is often poor[11]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood 10 - 15cm long, July/August in a frame[15]. Pot up in the autumn and overwinter in a cold frame. Plant out in late spring. High percentage[15] but very slow[3]. Cuttings of mature wood, 10 - 15cm with a heel, November in a frame[15]. Plant out the following autumn[15][11]. High percentage[15] but very slow[3].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Requires a deep rich moist soil in a sheltered sunny position[3][11]. Prefers a cool but sunny position[11]. A very ornamental plant, it only successful outdoors in Britain in favoured localities[1]. Grows well in Cornwall[14]. Tender when young[3], the shoot tips of mature plants can be damaged by hard frosts[11]. A number of named forms have been developed for their ornamental value[8]. Untidy old stems on established plants can be pruned to the base in spring[9]. Cultivated for its fruit in China and Japan[10] ( does this refer to medicinal usage?). It does not fruit freely in Britain[3]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[11].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009
? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X
Kariyone. T. Atlas of Medicinal Plants.
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2
Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7
Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00
Thurston. Trees and Shrubs in Cornwall.
Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00