Plum Passion® 'Monum' is an upright evergreen shrub in the barberry family (Berberidaceae). It is a tall cultivar with deep purplish-red new growth, turning deep green in summer and rich reddish-purple in fall and winter. Plum Passion heavenly bamboo prefers moist, well-drained soils. Water regularly for the first year and, once established, reduce frequency. Tolerates mild drought. The plant can be pruned, but keep in mind that next season's blossoms and fruits appear on new growth. It develops suckers and matures to produce a cluster of cane-like stems. This cultivar offers narrow, upright foliage borne on upright stems. It has superb foliage color in the spring, autumn and winter. Fruits may not form, especially on solitary shrubs, as cross-pollination may be needed. While it may not have fruit under certain conditions, the leaves and berries may be toxic when consumed in quantity. The sterile cultivars of heavenly bamboo are much less problematic and are much less likely to escape. All in all, Plum Passion is a spectacular and unique addition to the garden. It is excellent as a specimen or hedge plant in Asian or winter gardens. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No serious diseases or insect pests. Foliage may develop chlorosis in alkaline soils. Like all fruiting cultivars of heavenly bamboo, care should be taken to prevent poisoning of birds and invasive spread of the shrub. 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.
Fills a similar nicheCallicarpa Pearl Glam® 'NCCX2'Nandina domestica 'Wood' s Dwarf'Sedum acre
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
6-feet-12 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Multi-stemmed; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green; Purple/Lavender
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf value
Long-lasting; Showy
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Alternate, bi- to tri-pinnately compound leaves; new growth is purple.
Fall color
Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Flower color
White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Panicle
Flower shape
Star
Flower size
> 6 inches
Flower detail
White flowers in panicles 8 to 12 inches long bloom in late spring.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Berry
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit detail
Red berries that can persist into the winter.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Distribution
North Carolina west to Texas.
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.
Attracts
Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall; Winter
Fruit type
Berry
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn; Meadow; Patio; Pool/Hardscape
Landscape theme
Asian Garden; Cottage Garden; Water Garden; Winter Garden
Invasive Species; Poisonous to Humans; Problem for Cats; Problem for Children; Problem for Dogs; Problem for Horses
Resistant to
Deer; Drought; Poor Soil
Poison severity
High
Poison parts
Fruits; Leaves; Stems
Poison symptoms
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