Nandina ‘Firepower’
Dwarf nandina 'Firepower' in winter.
* Common name: Dwarf heavenly bamboo ‘Firepower’
* Botanical name: Nandina domestica ‘Firepower’
* What it is: A compact, broad-leafed evergreen that gets red-tinged new leaves in spring, then stays light green all summer. Foliage turns bright red in fall and holds that color most of winter. No fruits.
* Size: 3 feet tall and wide.
* Where to use: Versatile in full sun to mostly full shade and so can be used most anywhere a compact evergreen is needed – foundations, lining a walkway, underneath trees and interplanted with flowers in mixed gardens. Reasonably tolerant of tree-root competition.
* Care: Keep damp the first season, then water usually not needed. Work compost into soil at planting, then fertilizer usually not needed. Trim off any browned-out foliage or dead branch tips at end of winter but don’t cut whole way to ground.
* Great partner: Golden variegated Japanese forest grass or Bowles golden sedge.
Does this plant grow well in zone 4B?
Marilyn,
No, nandina is winter-hardy generally down to Zone 6. Zone 5 might be doable some years (especially with protection), but the odds aren’t good for long at all in Zone 4.
For “protection” would a wind barrier and an anti-dessicant spray be sufficient for this plant’s thriving in cold weatherin zone 5B?
Bob,
You can probably get away with growing nandina in 5B with some good siting, such as planting along a south- or west-facing wall, in a wind-protected courtyard or similar warm microclimate in your yard. Protecting the plant over winter with a burlap barrier also will help. The anti-desiccant won’t be of much help… those are more helpful as a pre-transplant spray when moving a plant.
Also, plant in spring instead of fall to give the plant a chance to root before winter. And keep it well watered the first couple of seasons, especially heading into winter. You might see the plant get brown leaves over winter (maybe almost completely some years), but there’s a good chance the roots will survive and it’ll push out new foliage in spring each year.