Nandina is grown for its foliage and the structure it brings to a planting. It's hardy across USDA zones 6 through 9 and shrugs off deer. Its early summer flowers are a modest draw for honeybees.
Zones
6-9
pH Range
4.5-6
Sun
Shade
Days to Maturity
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What Nandina is
Nandina grows as a perennial and reaches around eight feet at maturity. It blooms white in early summer. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Nandina
Nandina grows in USDA zones 6 through 9. Nandina does best in shade — at least 2 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 4.5 to 6. It needs a growing season of at least 165 frost-free days and about 200 hours of winter chill, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
6-9
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
4.5 - 6
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Shade
Growable Ground plant catalog
Drainage
Data pending
Growable Ground plant catalog
Frost Tolerance
2°F
The lowest temperature it shrugs off — below this, expect damage without cover.
Growable Ground plant catalog
Mature Height
8 ft
Growable Ground plant catalog
Chill Hours
200+
Winter hours below ~45°F it needs to fruit — too-mild winters can leave it bloom-shy.
Growable Ground plant catalog
Frost-Free Days
165+
The frost-free stretch it needs start to finish — short-season areas may need an indoor head start.
Growable Ground plant catalog
Start the season right
Plant nandina in shade with at least 2 hours of direct sun.
Match the soil
Nandina prefers pH 4.5 to 6 (USDA PLANTS). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. Match watering to the plant's drainage preference and your local rainfall.
Keep it in good form
Prune nandina to shape as it grows; the reward is its foliage and structure, not a harvest, so steady upkeep is the whole job.
Good to know
One caution for pet owners — nandina is toxic to dogs and cats (moderate severity). Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. (Source: ASPCA.)
Nandina offers low value to bees and other pollinators.
Where Nandina thrives
Nandina is hardy across USDA zones 6 through 9. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 6–9·Where Nandina growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Nandina can grow in these states:
See if Nandina will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether nandina actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Nandina in my zone?
Nandina grows in USDA hardiness zones 6 through 9 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Nandina?
Time nandina to your own season rather than the calendar, leaving enough of the season for its 165-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Nandina need?
Nandina is shade-tolerant — it gets by on as little as 2 hours of direct sun, so it earns a place most vegetables can't use. A north-facing strip or the ground under a leafy canopy is right where it belongs. A Growable Ground report shows which corners of your land stay shaded through the day, turning those dim spots into planting spots.
What soil does Nandina need?
Nandina prefers soil pH 4.5 to 6 (USDA PLANTS). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Nandina attract pollinators?
Yes — nandina's flowers are a modest nectar source for honeybees.
Is Nandina safe for pets?
Nandina is toxic to pets (dogs,cats) with moderate severity. Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. (Source: ASPCA.)