原產於中國、日本，莖從基部叢生，姿態像竹。嫩莖枝紅色，春夏季葉色嫩綠，於低溫地區的冬季會變紅，也有賞葉價值。春夏季開白花，秋至冬季結果，一串串紅豔的果實是鳥類的最愛，從株型、葉色的變化以及果實都極具觀賞價值。南天竹在日本俗稱南天，日文發音與「難轉」相似，在日本有轉變困難災厄的吉祥寓意，成為傳統年花。

Nandina is native to China and Japan, the clumped stems emerge from the base just like bamboo. The young stems and branches are red, and the leaves are tender green in spring and summer and turn red in winter in low temperature areas, so they are also valued as a leaf ornamental. White flowers blooming in spring and summer and fruiting from autumn to winter. The abundant red fruits are the favorite of birds. With versatile plant shape and leaf color as well as fruits, the plant is of great ornamental value. Nandina is commonly known as Nan Tian in Japan, the pronunciation in Japanese is similar to "difficult to turn", which has an auspicious meaning of reversing difficulties and disasters and hence is a traditional seasonal flower.

南天竹屬常綠灌木，原產中國、日本。莖常叢生且從基部生長，通常中央不長側枝。嫩莖枝紅色。互生葉片聚生於枝端，春夏季葉色嫩綠，於低溫地區冬季葉色會變紅。花有淡香味，果實紅色。開花期春夏季，結果期秋至冬季。

An evergreen shrub in the genus Nandina, native to China and Japan. Plant height 1-3m, tufted branchlets grow from the base, and young shoots are red. Alternate leaves clustered at the tip of the branch, oddly tri-pinnate compound; leaflets triternate, elliptic to lanceolate. Leaf color tender green in spring and summer, and turning red in cold regions in winter. Panicles axillary, with 6 white petals and 6 yellow anthers, lightly fragrant. Fruit red. Flowering from spring to summer, fruiting from autumn to winter.

適合全日照至半日照、溫暖或冷涼環境。使用壤土或砂質壤土種植。介質乾燥才澆水，春夏各施用一次長效性綜合肥料。生長良好的植株或有葉片太茂密的問題，可以剪去太擁擠的葉序，老化的枝條應整枝剪除。繁殖使用播種與分株法。

The plant thrives in full sun to partial sun environments. Water only when the medium is dry; apply long-active compound fertilizer once in spring and summer. Carry out pruning if the plant grows too vigorously. Propagated by seeds and ramets.

南天竹集花、果、葉、姿態的觀賞價值於一身，自古就有栽培欣賞的紀錄，尤其在溫帶地區栽培，冬天霜雪時仍可紅果懸掛於枝梢。單株可使用大型盆缽種植或露地種於小庭園中，亦可多株列植作為綠籬使用。

Prized for the flowers, fruits, foliage and postures, the plant has been cultivated as an ornamental for centuries. It can also be planted alone in a large pot or in an open field in a small courtyard, or planted in rows as green hedges.