Gulf Stream Heavenly Bamboo

Gulf Stream Heavenly Bamboo (Nandina domestica 'Gulf Stream') is the mass planting shrub that changes colour with the seasons and asks for almost nothing. It holds a neat dome about 90cm tall and 90cm wide, with fine, bamboo like foliage that flushes bronze on new growth and turns deep red through the cold months. It is not a bamboo and it does not run.

Why you'll love it

• Autumn and winter colour without losing leaves. The foliage reddens as temperatures drop and greens up again in spring, so the bed changes through the year while staying evergreen.
• A dwarf, sterile form. Unlike older nandinas, 'Gulf Stream' rarely sets berries and stays around 90cm, so it does not seed itself through the garden.
• Genuinely low maintenance. Frost hardy, heat tolerant, drought tolerant once established and happy in poor soil. It does not need shaping to look tidy.
• Uniform enough to plant in numbers. Growth is even and predictable, so a mass planting reads as one clean band rather than a row of individuals.

Where it works best

Mass planting and low hedging. Plant 60cm apart for a dense block or low informal hedge. At that spacing the canopies close within two seasons and the shaded ground beneath keeps weeding down.

Borders, edging and pots. The even height suits the front of a mixed bed or a run along a path, and a 400mm pot holds one plant comfortably in a courtyard.

Growing Gulf Stream Heavenly Bamboo in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the strongest red winter colour; part shade keeps the foliage greener and softer. It suits cool temperate, warm temperate, subtropical and Mediterranean gardens. Frost hardy gardens in the south get the best colour, because the red develops in response to cold.

Soil. Not fussy, and it tolerates poor soil better than most ornamentals. It still wants drainage, so on heavy clay plant on a raised mound and mulch 75mm deep, kept clear of the stems.

Water and feed. Water twice a week through the first summer, then taper off. Established plants are drought tolerant. A controlled release fertiliser in early spring keeps growth even, and too much nitrogen mutes the winter colour.

Pruning. Very little. Cut the oldest canes out at ground level every year or two to keep the clump fresh from the base. Remove whole canes rather than shearing the top flat, which spoils the natural texture.

What to expect when it arrives

This one is grown for planting in numbers, so it is sold in multi packs: 140mm in packs of ten, 200mm in packs of six and 250mm in packs of three. The 140mm pack is the value option for a long run at 60cm spacing, and the 250mm plants give you presence in the first season.

Plants arrive as bushy young clumps rather than finished domes, and some colour variation between plants is normal. Expect them to close ranks over two seasons. Plants travel upright and are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse plants with seasonal foliage colour
• Compare shrubs suited to mass planting
• More low maintenance shrubs for Australian gardens
• How to choose edging plants for a garden bed

Common questions

Is it actually a bamboo?

No. The common name comes from the fine, cane like stems and divided leaves. It is a shrub with an ordinary root system, and it does not run or send up shoots away from the plant.

How far apart should I plant it?

Sixty centimetres apart for a dense mass planting or low hedge. For a looser border where each plant shows its own shape, stretch that to 80cm.

Is it safe around pets?

No. Nandina foliage and berries are toxic to cats and dogs if eaten. 'Gulf Stream' is a sterile form that rarely fruits, which removes the berry risk, but keep it out of gardens where a dog chews foliage.