Nandina 'Fire Power'
Nandina domestica 'Fire Power'
“Fiery red winter color.”
Background
A dwarf selection developed in New Zealand, possibly as a sport of Nandina domestica 'Atropurpurea Nana' (per Missouri Botanical Garden). It is essentially sterile — no flowers or fruit — which makes it a non-invasive nandina choice. A staple dwarf landscape shrub since the 1990s-2000s. The UA arboretum notes it is endemic to China and Japan.
Distinguishing traits
Dwarf, dense, rounded shrub ~2 ft tall and wide. Leaves emerge lime green in spring, mature to medium green, pick up red tints in midsummer, then ignite to fiery red-orange in fall and hold excellent red color through winter. Grown for foliage, not flowers. The UA arboretum describes nandina as an evergreen shrub to about 8 feet with bamboo-like stalks, deep-green pinnate leaves that redden in cold, and showy clusters of red berries in fall.
Desert care — zone 9b
- Chill hours
- n/a — ornamental
- Cold hardiness
- Zones 6-9; hardy in 9b.
- Heat tolerance
- Very heat tolerant; a tough traffic-island plant. In desert sun it may need extra irrigation to hold color in peak summer.
- Water
- Low to moderate; drought tolerant once established. The UA arboretum rates water use as high, noting it is not drought tolerant and is sensitive to dry or salty soils.
- Soil
- Well-drained; avoid soggy soil. Watch for chlorosis in alkaline AZ soils.
- Sun exposure
- Full sun to partial shade; sunniest spots give the fiercest winter red. The UA arboretum recommends full sun to partial shade but cautions against over-exposure in very hot, sunny climates.
Where to buy
- MGN Liners