Compact Heavenly Bamboo

Nandina domestica (nan-DEE-nuh doh-MESS-tik-a)

Family: Berberidaceae Unknown Shrub (3-15 ft)

'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. More information on Nandina domestica .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 54 attributes.