Nandina domestica 'GULF STREAM'

Nandina is an evergreen or semi-evergreen shrub from India, China and Japan. Common name heavenly bamboo refers to its crinkly leaves that really whisper like papery bamboo when touched and in stronger wind.

Nandina species is believed to be the toughest of all nandinas as far as both hardiness and soil adaptability. Gulf Stream is a variety discovered by Hines Nursery from Texas, USA, and exhibits a dwarf version of this beautiful plant. It makes a neat and very dense shrub with pinnate up to 3-pinnate compound leaves. They are lance-shaped, coral pink to bronze when they emerge, changing to deep and olive green in summer, and turning bright red in autumn and winter. It makes an eye-catching display in areas occupied especially in autumn and winter when its colour is at its best.

Nandina likes rich, moist but well-drained soil though it shows great adaptability to almost any soil type apart from sandy and boggy. Once established it requires zero maintenance apart from occasional watering in dry spells and before winter. It if pest and disease free. It is hardy to about -23°C (USDA zone 6) and even though it is supposed to be tougher than the species we have not tested it in areas with constant cold wind or mountainous regions with long-lasting winters.

Last update 16-02-2016