If you have a garden, it is incomplete without a variety of nandina plants. There are more than 60 known varieties of nandina plants.
One of the best varieties of the nandina plant is a firepower nandina, which is a dwarf cultivar and is known for its beautiful foliage.
Firepower nandina is often used by gardeners to fill tight spaces, enhancing the visual beauty of the garden bed.
Firepower nandina is as hardy as it gets, changing colors throughout the year, starting with a lime-ish green look with hints of red in spring and light green in summer, and showing its magic, it changes its color to bright red in the season of fall and keeps this color in winters.
Its planting is usually done in the spring or fall season. It gives a lot of liberty to the gardener as it can be planted in the landscape, single plant, and a ground cover.
In this article, we will learn about some good companion plants of Firepower Nandina, its growing requirements, and the pests and diseases it is prone to so that preventive measures can be taken.
Let us start the journey.
Why Does Firepower Nandina Need Companion Plants?
Firepower nandina is a very self-dependent and adaptable shrub on its own. However, some good companion plants of firepower nandina will enhance the value and vibrancy of the garden.
Firepower Nandina does not provide much assistance to other plants, like improving soil nutrients or repelling pests; neither does it need any pest-repelling neighbors or plants that promote growth.
Companion planting will not only benefit the firepower nandina plant but will also add value to the garden by providing different textures and colors to the garden, especially in the falls or during the winter season when many plants tend to shy off.
Companion plants will also help firepower nandina in settling as decorative as well as border plants.
4 Best Firepower Nandina Companion Plants
There are some good companion plants of firepower nandina that will boost the productivity and vibrancy of your garden if planted alongside.
Let us have a look at some of the good companion plants of Firepower Nandina.
1. Loropetalum
One good companion plant of firepower nandina is loropetalum, It is a shrub that will give year-long happiness.
It blooms in deep maroon/reddish or purple colors, which provide a lot of complement to firepowers nandina.
Both these plants are good at managing heat like no other plants. Loropetalum and firepower nanidna both hail from Asia, so it is somewhat in their nature.
2. Hellebore
Another good friend of firepower nandina is Hellebore. Many people will be surprised that this plant has made it to the list, but trust us, they will work just fine.
Hellebore comes in a lot of different varieties, but to complement firepower nandina, you can easily opt for deep colors, and it will be easily available to you.
Hellebore plants need just a little shade, especially the European variety, whereas firepower is happy in sunlight; this means you can just find a place next to firepower nandina where they can find a bit of shade while completing the nandina’s
Hellebore plant comes in many different colors; there are some restrictions on their growing zone, but the plant has no maintenance requirements and is easy to grow, which will enhance the beauty of the entire garden.
3. Ornamental Grasses
One easy pick for a good partner of firepower Nandina is ornamental grass. Ornamental grasses are safe and provide a lot of texture to the plant.
Firepower nandina lacks texture, and ornamental grasses are one way to add some of those into your plant and to your garden.
There is no clash of thoughts when firepower nandina is planted with ornamental grasses like Blue Fescue (Festuca glauca) or Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa macra), which are low growing and perfectly match the plant’s vibe.
4. Hostas
A good companion of firepower, nandina is a very gentle and loved perennial plant hostas.
It adds variety to the surroundings as well as offers a lush ground cover. Different perennial plants like Ferns and Heuchera are always a good choice for the companions.
Worst Companion Plants for Firepower Nandina
We learned about some of the good companion plants of firepower nandina, which complement and provide vibrancy to the garden.
However, there are some plants that will stunt the growth of firepower nandina and will also affect the soil and garden bed if planted near firepower nandina.
Let’s have a look at some of those plants.
1. Other Nandina Varieties
Different varieties of nandina may not be the best companions for each other because they can potentially compete for the same resources and grow at different rates, leading to an unbalanced appearance.
2. Aggressive Spreaders
Avoid planting aggressive, spreading plants near firepower nandina, as they can encroach on its space and compete for nutrients and water. Examples include invasive ground covers like English ivy (Hedera helix) or running bamboo (Phyllostachys spp.).
What are Firepower Nandina’s Growing Requirements?
No matter how hardy a plant is, there will always be a requirement for an ideal environment for a healthy and bloomy growth.
Firepower Nandina has some growing requirements that will enhance the growth and help keep the plant healthy.
Let us have a look at some of the basic growing requirements of Firepower Nandina.
1. Light Requirements
Firepower Nandina is a sun-loving plant and requires full-day sunlight for better foliage color.
There is a unique window for the plant, wherein the zone 9, firepower Nandina will benefit if it gets some afternoon shade.
2. Soil Requirements
Firepower Nandina does not like a soil which is alkaline in nature, because it turns the leaves yellow, making it suffer from chlorosis.
Amending the soil with organic matter like compost can improve drainage and fertility.
3. Water Requirements
Firepower Nandina is a hardy plant that is fairly drought tolerant and can survive days without water, but when they are young and not established, you need to water it frequently and sufficiently.
Water deeply when the soil is dry to the touch, but avoid waterlogged conditions, as this can lead to root rot.
4. Fertilizer Requirements
Firepower Nandina is not generally affected by pests and many diseases, but it is only right to fertilize firepower Nandina often enough to promote good foliage color. Apply a general fertilizer in early spring and summer will help the plant.
5. Winter Protection
In colder regions, consider applying a layer of mulch around the base of the shrub in late fall to help insulate the roots during winter.
Grass Diseases and Pests
Firepower Nandina is not prone to a lot of pests and diseases, but in all plants, pests can attack, and diseases may take place.
Let us look at some common pests and diseases in firepower Nandina.
1. Aphids
These tiny insects can sometimes infest nandina plants, sucking sap from the leaves and causing distorted growth.
They can be eliminated by spraying soapy water or by merely using fingers to knock them away from the plant. Spraying neem oil is also one way to eliminate them.
2. Spider Mites
These microscopic pests can create fine webbing on the plant, and cause leaves to become discolored and stippled.
Using a harsh water spray like a jet spray can help reduce the infestation of spider mites, but this process should be frequent. Insecticidal soap and horticultural oil are other options to eliminate these pests.
3. Nandina Leafhopper
This insect feeds on nandina leaves, creating stippling and potentially causing leaves to become disfigured.
If you regularly spray organic insecticidal soap or neem oil, then you can get rid of these adult leafhoppers and nymphs.
4. Powdery Mildew
Like many ornamental plants, nandina can be susceptible to powdery mildew, which appears as a white, powdery substance on the leaves.
5. Leaf Spot Diseases
Various fungal pathogens can cause leaf spot diseases on nandina, resulting in dark spots on the leaves.
6. Root Rot
Excessive moisture in the soil can lead to root rot, which can affect the overall health of the plant.
Conclusion
Planting a nandina plant brings your garden the appropriate vibrancy it needs. Firepower Nandina just might be the best plant for your garden. It is hardy, drought tolerant, and requires minimal maintenance.
Plant it with good companion plants like Loropetalum, and others mentioned above to bring good texture and visual beauty to the garden. Follow the growing needs along with grass diseases and pests to ensure nothing affects the health of your plant.