Nandina Obsessed Seika - Sacred Bamboo

Nandina domestica 'Obsessed Seika' is a worthy descendant of the 'Gulf Stream' sacred bamboo, from which it inherits the beautiful changing foliage. Often evergreen, this elegant modest-sized bush has a remarkably decorative vegetation throughout the year. The summer flowering, in clusters of small white flowers, often coincides with the fruiting of the previous year in clusters of intense red fruits. Nandina domestica is as unique and striking as it is adaptable to climate and soil. Plant it in a strategic location in the garden, in isolation, in a bed, or even as a free hedge. It will also make a dazzling feature in a large pot on a terrace.

'Obsessed Seika' belongs to the Berberidaceae family. It is a recently obtained cultivar in the USA from Nandina domestica, a botanical species native to India, China, and Japan. The growth of this small bush is quite slow and its adult size will not exceed 1 m (3.3 ft) in height and 80 cm (31.5 in) in width. This plant forms a small bush with several upright and branching stems emerging from the ground, reminiscent of bamboo. Its foliage spreads over a generally rounded silhouette. Its vegetation is dense, compact, but slender and beautifully rounded. 'Obsessed Seika' is beautiful all year round. Its young red shoots bear narrow, pinkish-purple leaves at the start of growth, which turn greenish-blue in summer, and finally purple in autumn. In June-July, it produces small conical panicles of cream-white flowers. If the summer is long and hot enough, the flowers are followed by clusters of highly decorative bright red fruits. They remain on the branches for a long time in winter. The fruiting will be more generous if at least two individuals are planted in the garden. The root of this plant is a rootstock.

Nandina domestica 'Obsessed Seika' is admirable in large plantings, where it creates fabulous groves that evolve with the seasons. It can be planted alongside choice shrub peonies, rudbeckias, Spiraea bumalda 'Crispa', Euphorbia griffithii 'Fire Glow', crocosmias, or daylilies. This small bush will also be magnificent in a large pot on the terrace. Position your pot in a sunny spot, but not in scorching sunlight. In a small flowering hedge or grove, it can be accompanied, for example, by Lonicera fragrantissima, Mahonia, Lespedeza thunbergii, Abelia grandiflora, and Sarcococca.