Nandina domestica 'Fire Power'
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- nan-DEE-nuh doh-MESS-tik-a
- This plant is an invasive species in North Carolina
- Description
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'Fire Power' is a cultivar of Nandina domestica, or Heavenly Bamboo, a drought tolerant evergreen shrub, which may develop suckers, reseeds itself readily and occasionally naturalizes. 'Fire Power' is a dwarf form of N. domestica that typically grows to only 2 feet tall and as wide. It produces very few flowers or fruit and is basically grown for its attractive foliage. Because ‘Fire Power’ is essentially sterile (non-fruiting), it can be considered a non-invasive variety of Heavenly Bamboo with a lower level of poisonous characteristics. While evergreen, the leaves usually retain excellent red color throughout winter.
The shrub can be pruned, but keep in mind that next season's blossoms and fruit appear on new growth.
The dwarf cultivars, including 'Fire Power' are often put to use as low maintenance ground cover for traffic islands and similar landscape applications where toughness is a useful trait and invasiveness would not be an issue.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No known insect or disease problems. Foliage may develop chlorosis in alkaline soils. It is considered invasive in North Carolina mountains and southern Piedmont and you should check recommendations before adding this plant to your landscape.
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Davidson County Extension Demonstration Garden Asian Garden - Zen Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Nandina
- Species:
- domestica
- Family:
- Berberidaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- Wildlife Value:
- Resistant to deer
- Edibility:
- Birds and small mammals eat the fruits.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Weed
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- Mostly fruitless
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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- Mostly flowerless
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Lime-green foliage in the spring and summer gives way to red-orange foliage in the fall.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Patio
- Pool/Hardscape
- Small Space
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Salt
- Problems:
- Invasive Species
