‘Filamentosa’ heavenly bamboo is a drought-tolerant, evergreen shrub in the barberry family (Berberidaceae). ‘Filamentosa’ is more commonly marketed under the trade name San Gabriel and is a compact, very slow-growing cultivar with unusual, airy, fern-like foliage. It is beautiful in all seasons with apricot colored new growth, nice bright green to blue-green foliage all summer and brilliant crimson in the fall. Bright orange-red winter fruit forms after flowering. San Gabriel nandina tolerates average to dry soils with good drainage. The plant can be pruned. Like all heavenly bamboo, tt will spread somewhat by suckers and is deer resistant. The leaves and berries, when consumed in quantity, can be toxic. Heavenly bamboo is considered invasive in North Carolina mountains and southern Piedmont; however, the sterile cultivars are much less problematic and are much less likely to escape. San Gabriel nandina reaches a maximum height of 2 feet and a width of 2 feet, perfect for borders or containers. Use it in an Asian or winter garden. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No serious diseases or insect pests. 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 nicheIlex vomitoria 'Taylor' s Rudolph'Nandina domestica 'Harbour Dwarf'Picea laxa 'Conica'
Similar, less problematicNandina domestica 'Fire Power'Nandina domestica 'Gulf Stream'
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Perennial; Poisonous; Shrub
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: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Mounding
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Blue; Gold/Yellow; Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
< 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Alternate, compound leaves; narrow leaflets look almost grass-like; new growth is reddish, matures to blue-green; burgundy-red fall color.
Fall color
Red/Burgundy
Flower color
Pink; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Panicle
Flower shape
Star
Flower detail
Pinkish-white flowers bloom in clusters at the ends of branches in the late spring and summer.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Orange; Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Berry
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long
Fruit detail
Bright orange-red winter fruit that can persist into winter.
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.
Invasive Species; Poisonous to Humans; Problem for Cats; Problem for Children; Problem for Dogs; Problem for Horses
Resistant to
Deer; Drought
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