'Harbour Dwarf' is a cultivar of heavenly bamboo, a drought-tolerant evergreen shrub and a member of the barberry family (Berberidaceae). The cultivar name, bestowed in 1956, commemorates Mr. C.L. Harbour, who first discovered the cultivar. Once established, 'Harbour Dwarf' is moderately drought tolerant. The plant can be pruned to shape. This shrub prefers sun or partial shade and neutral-to-acid soil. 'Harbour Dwarf' is a dwarf cultivar of heavenly bamboo that typically grows to only 2 feet tall, but can spread by rhizomes to 3 to 4 feet wide. The leaves are smaller, narrower and closer together than on the wild-type species, typically forming a dense foliage mound that branches to the ground. In areas where it is evergreen, the leaves will maintain their red color throughout the winter. Fruits are produced less abundantly than the wild-type species. While the fruit of 'Harbour Dwarf' is less abundant, the leaves and berries may still be toxic to humans, livestock, horses, cats, dogs, and birds such as Cedar Waxwings, which can ingest too many berries in one feeding session. All parts contain cyanide and when consumed in quantity can be toxic. Consider planting non-fruiting cultivars such as ‘Gulf Stream’. 'Harbour Dwarf' can be a colorful border plant with coppery tints in spring, maturing to green in summer, and turning either reddish-orange or reddish-purple in winter. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. Foliage may develop chlorosis in alkaline soils. More information on Nandina domestica .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Often confused withNandina domestica Flirt™ 'Murasaki'
Fills a similar nicheBerberis x chenaultiiIlex vomitoria 'Taylor' s Rudolph'Nandina domestica San Gabriel 'Filamentosa'
Similar, less problematicNandina domestica 'Fire Power'Nandina domestica 'Gulf Stream'
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Perennial; Poisonous; Shrub; Weed
Life cycle
Perennial; Woody
USDA zones
6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Erect; Mounding
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen; Deciduous
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf value
Long-lasting; Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Tripinnately compound, leaves emerge in spring and turn reddish in the winter.
Fall color
Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Flower color
White
Flower form
Insignificant; Panicle
Flower shape
Star
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
White with yellow anthers that grow on erect terminal panicles.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Berry
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Round, fleshy, red fruit, less than a 1/2 inch.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Wildlife value
Leaves and berries are toxic to livestock and other domestic animals, this plant is particularly resistant to damage by deer. Berries contain cyanide and when consumed in quantity can be toxic to birds.
Hydrogen cyanide is highly poisonous if ingested in quantity. All parts are toxic to humans, cats, dogs, livestock, horses, and birds such as the Cedar Waxwing. Weakness, incoordination, seizures, coma, respiratory failure, and death can occur from ingestion.
Toxic principle
Cyanogenic glycosides
Contact dermatitis
No
Toxicity summary
High severity poison; parts: Fruits; Leaves; Stems