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Dwarf Nandinas Can Be Good Landscape Choices
Dwarf Nandinas Can Be Good Landscape Choices
Photo to be credited to Rushing Nurseries: Firepower nandina has rich crimson foliage in the fall and winter.
Cheryl Naylor is a Master Gardener volunteer with the University of Florida IFAS Extension in Leon County .
http://leon.ifas.ufl.edu
January 29, 2004
M
any gardeners have heard that news that nandinas can be invasive plants. The colorful red berries they
produce are spread by birds into woodlands and other native areas where the plants continue to proliferate.
However, not all nandinas are bad guys. Not only are Nandina ‘Firepower’ and Nandina ‘Harbour Dwarf’
beautiful year-round plants, they do not produce the berries causing the problematic proliferation that their taller
nandina cousin does.
All nandina plants, which belong to the barberry family (Berberidaceae), are thought to resemble bamboo with
cane-like stems and fine foliage. Therefore, they have the common name of “Heavenly Bamboo.” With the
same bamboo-like stem structure, ‘Firepower’ and ‘Harbour Dwarf” are more compact and mounding in
growth habit than that dratted taller, wispier, invasive cousin. Each is hardy in zones 6 – 9. We are in Zone
8B.
These two nandina cultivars have no serious pests and require little maintenance. These evergreen, tough,
durable, heat resistant small shrubs can be grown in sun or partial shade. The sunnier the exposure, the more
brilliant the fall and winter display. They also make great large container specimens. During the cold months,
when my brick patios are fairly dismal looking for lack of container plant interest, I display about fifteen potted
flame-colored ‘Firepower’ nandinas which inspire all sorts of wonderful comments from visitors.
‘Firepower’, one of our most colorful winter shrubs, grows to about three feet tall at maturity and about 2 feet
wide. Its growth habit is upright, with a spreading crown of foliage. Cutting back one third of its stems will
keep it bushy rather than tall. New leaf growth is a chartreuse color, and becomes tinged with red during the
growing season. The real show stopper is its stunning rich crimson fall and winter coloring.
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Dwarf Nandinas Can Be Good Landscape Choices
‘Harbour Dwarf’ seldom exceeds two feet in height with equal spread. Its leaves are smaller and wispier than
‘Firepower’. It, too, will grow in full sun to partial shade. ‘Harbour Dwarf’ is a fine border plant, groundcover
or container plant. Like ‘Firepower,’ ‘Harbour Dwarf’ has chartreuse summer foliage tinged in orange, and
brilliant fall color which is more red-orange than crimson.
While both of these cultivars prefer well-drained soil, they can take our droughts, intermittent wet weather and
oppressive heat. Neither is salt tolerant. Both will grow in clay, sand, loam, acidic or alkaline soil. Though
‘Firepower’ and ‘Harbour Dwarf’ can certainly hold their own alone, they contrast nicely with dark green
plants like ‘Evergreen Giant liriope. They are absolutely breathtaking when planted in drifts or as a border.
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