Nandina domestica Flirt Murasaki - Sacred Bamboo

Nandina domestica Flirt 'Murasaki' is a new variety of sacred bamboo that stands out for its particularly compact and beautifully spread habit, well suited to small spaces and terrace decoration. This bushy plant has remarkably colourful evergreen foliage, which is dark red almost all year round, as suggested by the name 'Murasaki', which means purple in Japanese. The summer flowering, in panicles of small white flowers, often coincides with the fruiting of the previous year in clusters of intense red fruits. This original and sculptural bush can be used as ground cover and in borders, and it will be enhanced in a pot on a terrace.

Nandina domestica Flirt 'Murasaki' belongs to the Berberidaceae family. This cultivar was obtained by Magnolia Gardens Nursery in Texas (US) in 2005. It is based on Nandina domestica 'Harbour Dwarf', which also has a very compact habit. The growth of this small bush is slow and its adult size will not exceed 1m (3ft) in height after many years. Wider than it is tall, this plant forms a beautifully spreading but light mass, supported by short stems reminiscent of bamboo. It is beautiful all year round. Its young Bordeaux red-purple shoots then give way to finely toothed leaflets, which are pink-purple at budbreak, dark green in summer, before turning dark red again in autumn. In June-July, it produces small conical panicles of cream-white flowers. These are followed by clusters of highly decorative bright red fruits, if the summer is long and warm enough. They persist on the branches for a long time, creating a joyful scene in the winter light. The root of this plant is a root stock.

Nandina domestica Flirt 'Murasaki' is particularly admirable in large plantings, along a pathway, or to dress the base of bushes or trees with light foliage. It can be paired with dwarf spireas (Spiraea japonica 'Little Princess'), colourful foliage Physocarpus ('Little Devil', 'Amber Jubilee', 'Dart's Gold'), Euphorbia griffithii 'Fire Glow', or even a dwarf Berberis 'Bagatelle'. Each of these scenes will be a success. This small bush will also be magnificent in a large pot on a terrace, in a non-scorching exposure and with regular watering.