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Heavenly bamboo and Common snowberry: growing conditions and wildlife benefits.

COMMON CHOICE Heavenly bamboo Nandina domestica	NATIVE ALTERNATIVE Common snowberry Symphoricarpos albus
	GO NATIVE
Native range
China and Japan	Northern and western North AmericaSee state guides
Sunlight
Sun to part or dappled shade	Part sun & shade
Soil moisture
Moist, well-drained soil	Dry soil / Average moisture
Mature height
3–8 ft	3–6 ft
Mature spread
2–5 ft	3–6 ft
USDA hardiness zones
6–9	3–7
Season of interest
Spring flowers; fall–winter foliage and berries	Summer–winter
Garden & wildlife value
Birds and small mammals eat the fruit, but the berries can harm birds.	Native foliage feeds snowberry clearwing caterpillars, and white berries provide food for wildlife.
Growing notes
An evergreen to semi-evergreen shrub that can spread by seed and underground stems.	A deciduous, suckering shrub for naturalistic plantings; berries are for wildlife, not people.
Growing information	Growing information

Sizes describe the species; individual cultivars can differ.