Nandina ‘Firepower’

Nandina 'Firepower' (Nandina domestica 'Firepower') is a dwarf shrub grown entirely for its foliage, which runs lime green through the warm months and deepens to burgundy red as the weather cools. It holds a tidy dome about 60cm each way with no pruning at all, which makes it one of the easiest plants to use in a border. This is the non berrying form, so there is no fruit and nothing seeding into the beds.

Why you'll love it

• Two plants in one year. Soft lime green growth through spring and summer, then a deep red flush that holds all winter.
• It stays small on its own. Roughly 60cm each way at maturity, with no shearing needed to keep it there.
• Tough where colour plants give up. Frost hardy, drought and heat tolerant and happy in poor soil, from subtropical gardens through to cool temperate and arid inland conditions.
• Close to no maintenance. No deadheading, no staking, no annual clip.

Where it works best

Borders and edging. Plant 50cm apart for a solid low border. The domes touch without crowding, and the line stays even because every plant grows to the same size.

Mass planting. Set at 50cm centres in a staggered grid it reads as a single block of colour, which is why it is used under trees and along retaining walls.

Pots, rockeries and small gardens. A 300mm pot holds one comfortably for years, and in a rockery it gives winter colour among stone where flowering plants struggle.

One caution: nandina foliage is toxic to cats and dogs if eaten, so pick a different border plant if you have an animal that chews.

Growing Nandina 'Firepower' in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the strongest red. In part shade the plant stays healthy but the winter colour is muted. Cold nights drive the intensity, so cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens get the best display while subtropical gardens see a softer bronze tone.

Soil. Genuinely undemanding. Any reasonable garden soil works, including poor and compacted ground, provided water does not sit around the crown. Mulch 75mm deep, clear of the stems.

Water and feed. Water twice a week through the first summer, then reduce to occasional deep soaks. One application of controlled release fertiliser in early spring is all it asks.

Pruning. Almost none, since growth is slow and naturally domed. If a plant goes woody after several years, cut one or two of the oldest canes to ground level in spring and fresh canes replace them.

What to expect when it arrives

Four sizes are grown: a single tube, 140mm in a pack of 10, 200mm in a pack of 6 and 250mm in a pack of 3. Tubes take a season or two to make a dome, which suits a large mass planting. The 140mm and 200mm packs are the practical middle ground for a border, and 250mm plants already show their shape on arrival.

Nandina travels well because the foliage is firm rather than soft. Most customers order a pack rather than a single tube, since a border or mass planting only works when every plant matches in size and age. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Plants grown for seasonal colour change
• Ideas for low growing border plants
• Compare plants suited to mass planting
• How foliage colour shifts through the seasons

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it?

Fifty centimetres apart for a continuous low border or a solid mass planting. For single accent plants in a rockery, 80cm gives each dome room to be seen on its own.

Does it produce berries or seed into the garden?

No. 'Firepower' is a non berrying selection, which is the main reason it is chosen over older nandinas. There is no fruit and no seedling problem.

Is it safe around pets?

No. Nandina is toxic to cats and dogs if the foliage is eaten. Choose a different low shrub if your pet grazes on plants.