Nandina domestica 'Gulf Stream'
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- nan-DEE-nuh doh-MESS-tik-a
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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'Fire Power' is a cultivar of heavenly bamboo, a drought-tolerant evergreen shrub, in the barberry family (Berberidaceae). This produces very few flowers or fruit and is grown primarily for its attractive foliage.
'Gulf Stream', like its wild-type heavenly bamboo, is drought tolerant and may develop suckers. Cold can damage this plant, but it typically does well in southern winters. It can be pruned, but being a dwarf cultivar, it rarely needs pruning. Like all heavenly bamboo, it is resistant to damage by deer.
'Gulf Stream' is a dense and bushy dwarf, maturing at about 3 feet high with a similar spread with an attractive compact habit and bright colorful leaves. Because ‘Gulfstream’ rarely produces fruits it can be considered a non-invasive variety of heavenly bamboo that carries a much lower risk of bird poisoning. While evergreen, the leaves usually retain excellent red color throughout winter.
'Gulf Stream' makes an excellent addition to a walkway planting, a low hedge, or courtyard or planted as a specimen or in small groupings in a cottage garden.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No known insect or disease problems. Foliage may develop chlorosis in alkaline soils. The wild-type heavenly bamboo is considered invasive in North Carolina mountains and southern Piedmont; however, the sterile cultivars are much less problematic and are much less likely to escape.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- 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:
- Leaves are toxic to livestock and other domestic animals. This plant is particularly resistant to damage by deer.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- 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
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 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:
- This cultivar is essentially sterile.
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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- This cultivar is non-flowering and sterile.
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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:
- Brown/Copper
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Narrow, diamond-shaped leaves are orange-tinted and coppery when young, turn turquoise in summer, then turn orange-red in fall and winter color.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Hedge
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Salt
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- High
- Poison Symptoms:
- Hydrogen cyanide is highly poisonous if ingested in quantity. All parts are toxic to humans, cats, dogs, livestock, and horses. Weakness, seizures, coma, respiratory failure, and death can occur from ingestion.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Cyanogenic glycosides
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Leaves
- Stems