Nandina Firepower

A sterile cultivar of nandina, this small evergreen gets it's name from a rich cascade of color throughout the year. Reds, yellows, and oranges mingle with greens throughout the year to create a small dome to vase shaped shrub with great visual and textural appeal. We like this plant spaced among perennials for structure or in border gardens for a nice all-season shrub.

Also known as heavenly bamboo, We like firepower nandina because they are sterile - although they can produce a small number of berries. There have been some concerns about the presence of small amounts of cyanide in the berries of Nandina and the effect on birds. Travis has done some considerable research and research indicates that the affect of Nandina on birds, particularly cedar waxwing maybe overblown. Researchers have found that cedar waxwing kills occur occasionally when the birds engorge themselves on any berry including blueberries, or crabapples and that the overeating maybe the issue in these deaths rather than the cyanide in nandina berries. 

General care for any tree or shrub is easy, but like any living thing will require your attention. Please educate yourself and follow these simple rules.

Nandina Firepower

Nandina is evergreen through zone 6a, like boxwood, a hard cold snap after warmer weather can damage the evergreen leaves. Plants can experience full loss of leaves and still regerminate leaves the following season. Best grown in good quality soil with an application of mulch in the summer and winter months to protect the roots. Dead stems can be removed with trimmers in the early spring.