Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
Obsession Nandina is a compact evergreen shrub with rich red new growth and a clean, upright shape. It matures about 3 to 4 feet tall and wide, giving it presence while still fitting easily into borders and foundation beds. New foliage emerges scarlet red, then matures to deep green, with cool weather often strengthening the red tones again. Our landscape designer uses this Nandina domestica 'Seika' when a bed needs year-round foliage color at mid-height.
‘Seika’ means sacred fire in Japanese, a fitting reference to the color of the young leaves. This Southern Living selection has a dense habit and slow to moderate growth, so it stays more refined than older heavenly bamboo types. Obsession Nandina is deer resistant, water-wise once established, and useful in accents, containers, slopes, mass plantings, and low hedges. It is grown mainly for foliage, with flowering and fruiting limited or absent in typical landscape plantings.
Obsession Nandina Care
Plant Obsession Nandina in part sun to shade, with brighter light giving the strongest red foliage. It adapts to sandy, loamy, or clay soil as long as drainage is good. Slightly acidic to neutral soil is preferred, since alkaline conditions can cause chlorosis.
Water deeply after planting, and keep the root zone evenly moist during the first growing season. Established plants tolerate short dry periods, but occasional deep watering during prolonged heat keeps foliage fuller. Fertilize yearly in early spring with a balanced slow-release shrub fertilizer. Mulch 1 to 2 inches deep to conserve soil moisture and protect roots, leaving the stems uncovered.
Obsession Nandina usually holds its shape with little pruning. In late winter or early spring, remove damaged canes or cut a few older stems at the base to refresh the plant. Avoid shearing across the top, since selective cuts preserve the layered foliage texture.
Obsession Nandina Spacing
Space Obsession Nandina 3 to 4 feet apart for a full hedge, slope planting, or massed foliage display. Use the wider spacing for individual accent shrubs or mixed borders. For containers, choose a pot at least 18 inches wide with drainage holes, and water when the upper 2 inches of potting mix are dry.
Build a sunny mixed bed with Obsession Nandina as the red foliage layer behind Indian hawthorn and false cypress for evergreen structure with different textures. Agastache and tickseed can carry seasonal flowers through the open spaces while sharing sun and well-drained soil. In containers, Obsession Nandina can stand as the permanent shrub, with fan flower or marigold used seasonally around the edge for warm-weather color.
Obsession Nandina Information
| USDA Hardiness Zones: 6-10 |
| Flower Color(s): n/a |
| Bloom Period: Grown for Foliage |
| Foliage Color(s): Green to Rich Red |
| Light Exposure: Partial Sun to Shade |
| Height: 3-4 Feet |
| Spread: 3-4 Feet |
| Habit: Compact, Upright |
| Watering: Medium |
| Features: Variegated Foliage |
| Scientific Name: Nandina domestica 'Seika' PP21891 |
| Common Name: Obsession™ Nandina |
| Brand: Southern Living Plants |
Simple Plant Spacing Calculator
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
We stand behind our plants with industry-leading guarantees to give you peace of mind.
We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
Starting January 1, 2026 all bushes, perennials & trees purchased come with an extended 1-year warranty for added confidence. If your plant dies due to a health issue within a year, we’ll make it right.
Pre-ordered plants are scheduled to ship in Spring 2026. We carefully plan our shipping dates based on your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone to ensure optimal planting conditions upon arrival. Want it sooner/later? Reach out, and we'll try our best to accommodate.
Estimated ship week for pre-ordered plants will ship based on growing zones as shown below.
| Growing Zone | Estimated Ship Week |
|---|---|
| Zone 10 | April 6th |
| Zone 9 | April 6th |
| Zone 8 | April 6th |
| Zone 7 | April 13th |
| Zone 6b | April 20st |
| Zone 6a | April 27th |
| Zone 5b | May 4th |
| Zone 5a | May 11th |
| Zone 4 | May 18th |
| Zone 3 | May 25th |
Note: These are only estimated ship dates. Plants may ship out later depending on weather & growing conditions of the plant.
Note: Only plants indicated as pre-order will ship as shown above. All other plants and hard goods will ship as normal.
Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!