What Plant is This? Berries - Ask Extension
Hello,
Can you help me identify this plant/shrub? (photos attached )
Are the berries harmful to birds?
Should I cut the berries off? While they...
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What Plant is This? Berries #924391
Asked February 09, 2026, 7:26 PM EST
Hello,
Can you help me identify this plant/shrub? (photos attached )
Are the berries harmful to birds?
Should I cut the berries off? While they are colorful and add decor to the backyard, I don’t want them if they are harmful to birds.
thanks,
Dave Oatman
Eugene, Oregon
Lane County Oregon
Expert Response
Hi Dave,
The plant is a nandina or 'heavenly bamboo'. This plant can send roots out and new plants will come up. The berries are considered toxic so the minimum you want to do is remove the berries and put in the trash. You do not want them in your compost piles.
Bamboo plants and their various varieties are very vigorous and take quite a bit to remove. Organically, you can dig out the plants and get as many roots as possible. You can use 20 or 30% vinegar spray on the roots. That will kill them but it may have to be done a few times. Roots that are not unearthed may continue to grow.
I am attaching the Poison Control info on nandina plants for your review:
https://www.poison.org/articles/nandina-domestica-heavenly-bamboo
If you have further questions, please contact us again.
The plant is a nandina or 'heavenly bamboo'. This plant can send roots out and new plants will come up. The berries are considered toxic so the minimum you want to do is remove the berries and put in the trash. You do not want them in your compost piles.
Bamboo plants and their various varieties are very vigorous and take quite a bit to remove. Organically, you can dig out the plants and get as many roots as possible. You can use 20 or 30% vinegar spray on the roots. That will kill them but it may have to be done a few times. Roots that are not unearthed may continue to grow.
I am attaching the Poison Control info on nandina plants for your review:
https://www.poison.org/articles/nandina-domestica-heavenly-bamboo
If you have further questions, please contact us again.
