Nandina domestica 'Seika' OBSESSED

Nandina is an evergreen or semi-evergreen shrub from India, China and Japan. Common name heavenly bamboo refers to its crinkly leaves that really whisper like papery bamboo when touched and in stronger wind. Nandina species is believed to be the toughest of all nandinas as far as both hardiness and soil adaptability.

OBSESSED is a patented nandina variety discovered by April Hering and Adeiana Garza from Texas, USA, as a natural mutation of Gulf Stream variety in 2005. It grows slowly and makes a compact shrub with very attractive burgundy red young foliage. The leaves are pinnate, composed of small, lance-shaped leaflets which are green in summer and turn bronze red in autumn and winter. It remains evergreen in mild winters and is semi-deciduous in colder regions. Patent No. PP21891 was issued in 2011.

Nandina likes rich, moist but well-drained soil though it shows great adaptability to almost any soil type apart from sandy and boggy. Once established it requires zero maintenance apart from occasional watering in dry spells and before winter. It if pest and disease free. It is hardy to about -23°C (USDA zone 6) and even though it is supposed to be tougher than the species we have not tested it in areas with constant cold wind or mountainous regions with long-lasting winters.

Last update 06-04-2017