Characteristics
| Hardiness zone | 5b |
|---|---|
| Foliage type | evergreen |
| Plant form | mounded |
| Mature height | 24 inches |
| Spread | 24 inches |
| Light requirements | full sun to shade |
| Moisture requirements | dry to moist |
| Plant origin | import |
Fire Power Nandina
Botanical name: Nandina domestica ‘Fire Power’
An extremely tight and compact version of the species which emerges reddish and retains hints of red in summer, but eventually turns fiery scarlet into fall; no flowers and fruit, but the long-season fall color is overwhelming.
Other names: Heavenly Bamboo
Ornamental Features
Fire Power Nandina has attractive bluish-green foliage edged in red which emerges burgundy in spring. The pointy bipinnately compound leaves are highly ornamental and turn an outstanding scarlet in the fall. Neither the flowers nor the fruit are ornamentally significant. The brick red stems can be quite attractive.
Landscape Attributes
Fire Power Nandina is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a mounded form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.
This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;
Suckering
Fire Power Nandina is recommended for the following landscape applications;
Mass Planting, Rock/Alpine Gardens, Border Edging, General Garden Use, Container Planting
Planting and Growing
Fire Power Nandina will grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 24 inches. It has a low canopy. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 30 years.
This shrub performs well in both full sun and full shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations, and should do just fine under typical garden conditions. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.
Fire Power Nandina makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. It can be used either as 'filler' or as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, depending on the height and form of the other plants used in the container planting. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.
