Chinese-bamboo
Nandina domestica
Last reviewed: October 2026
Chinese-bamboo is toxic to dogs and cats.
Listed as toxic by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) (last reviewed 2026-05-21). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 and your veterinarian's emergency line.
Pollinator Patch flags toxic plants so you can choose a pet-safe native alternative for your yard.
The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Chinese-bamboo as toxic to livestock.
Light
part sun
Water
medium
Size
48"–96" H × 24"–60" W
Bloom
May, Jun
Pollinators
bees, beetles
Native alternatives to Chinese-bamboo
Chinese-bamboo is not native to the United States. These natives fill a similar role in a planting, matched on bloom season, bloom color and mature size.
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 459 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaPicture natives in your own yard
Wondering what could grow where Chinese-bamboo is now? Upload a photo of the spot and Patch Vision shows a rendering of it replanted with natives for your region.
Nandina is a popular evergreen shrub with bamboo-like stems and delicate compound leaves that turn reddish in winter. It produces small white flower clusters in late spring followed by bright red berries that persist through winter.
In an HOA neighborhood
Chinese-bamboo takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: front yard, foundation, street edge, mid zone.
- Berries may be considered messy when they drop
Wildlife value
The spring flowers attract bees and beetles for pollination. The colorful winter berries provide food for birds, though they can be toxic to some wildlife in large quantities.
Common questions
- How much sun does Chinese-bamboo need?
- Chinese-bamboo grows best in part sun conditions.
- When does Chinese-bamboo bloom?
- Chinese-bamboo blooms in May and June.
- Is Chinese-bamboo toxic to dogs?
- Yes. Chinese-bamboo is listed as toxic to dogs by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
- Is Chinese-bamboo toxic to cats?
- Yes. Chinese-bamboo is listed as toxic to cats by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your cat has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
- Is Chinese-bamboo toxic to livestock?
- The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Chinese-bamboo as toxic to livestock.
- What pollinators does Chinese-bamboo attract?
- Chinese-bamboo draws bees and beetles.
- Is Chinese-bamboo HOA-friendly?
- Chinese-bamboo takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Pollinator Patch flags toxic plants like Chinese-bamboo and shows pet-safe natives for your ecoregion instead.