I’ve heard that in Japan it is considered good luck if you plant a Heavenly Bamboo (Nandina domestica) like this one next to your doorway and it grows up above the top of your door frame. This bamboo – (not a real bamboo – it’s in the Barberry family, with Oregon Grape, Barberries and other Mahonias) – is 11 feet tall, one of the tallest I’ve ever seen. The door is on a porch that is 4 feet high – so the plant is 7 feet tall at the porch level and is just above the doorway. Since we have such good luck here in this home we figure this may be a true thing. Might as well be, eh? Good luck is always welcome…
However lucky they are, the berries are unfortunately not good luck for the birds. They’re poisonous to them, and to us as well, so don’t eat them or expect the birds to. They know what they doing! They’re so pretty on the plant anyway, who would want to remove them? Except maybe to bring them indoors to brighten up your living room with a floral display!
Good luck to you and yours,
Steve
Gardening in Greenwood 