Re: Nandina domestica
- To: s*@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
- Subject: Re: [SG] Nandina domestica
- From: M* T*
- Date: Sun, 1 Aug 1999 00:05:09 -0400
> Marge--wow! Thanks, that's quite a list of "deerproof" plants. I will
> forward it to my friends.
Thx Bobbi...note to them, tho', that they are proof for *my* deer, their
experience may be different - but it is something to try at any rate.
Deer are such cussed beasts. I've seen countless posts about how they do
not eat Cleome - and mine never have, heretofore. BUT, today I noted some
young plants with their tops nibbled off. They were next to some violets
with their leaves eaten off and stems left - sure sign of Bambi, so I have
to assume my herd is trying Cleome this year to spice up their menu. Proof
that *nothing* is safe from Bambi!
> By the way, do you successfully grow Nandina??? For how long? Can you get
> it to berry reliably? Can you share your secrets? It grows so well in
> cool, foggy CA that I can hardly believe it would like our Lower Midwest
> temp swings between 103 (yesterday) and -25 (a couple years ago). Folks
> just half a zone south of us can grow it, but I've been unsuccessful so
> far.
I've had N. domestica for...hmmmm...at least 10 years and maybe longer. It
flowers and berries most years. In harsh winters, it has died back to the
ground but come back for me from the roots. This one is growing in quite a
bit of shade, but gets a glimpse of some sun through tree branches
overhead. It was a piece from a shrub of my Moms. Her shrub was huge.
Mine has never gotten as big in girth as hers, tho' it has reached the same
height. I put this down to its having died back at least three or four
times since I planted it. She's in northern AL, half a zone warmer than
I...and that half zone makes a whale of a lot of difference to some plants.
Year before last, I put the dwarf N. 'Fire Power' (obtained at local
nursery, Gene) in my west border - almost total shade and quite dry in
summer. It seems to be doing quite well - no winter die back; maintains
its nice size and even colorful foliage...no flowers or berries, but I'm
not even sure this one does flower.
Gene, good old Forestfarm has 'Fire Power' in tubes for $5.95 (you'd have
to wait a couple of years for it to be as large as local nurseries usually
carry) plus they have another dwarf, 'Woods Dwarf', said to make an 18"
mound....
http://www.forestfarm.com/search/bygenus.asp
This is the URL to their Nandina page...hope it works as it's a search
result and sometimes they are tricky....
This spring, was given by net buddy, a piece of one of her plants - tall
one with a name that I duly wrote down somewhere, but I'll be blessed if I
can think where. It was practically yanked out of the ground; lost a lot
of roots. I potted it up; it dropped lots of leaves, I cut it back. It
put out new growth and, still in the pot, danged if it isn't making flower
buds....She was growing this out in the open in VA, near Mt. Vernon; some
south of me.
Dirr rates Nandina from zones 6 to 9...I'd say 6 with protection, myself,
based on winter performance when it gets cold here....and it never gets
-25F here. They do not seem fazed in the least by heat and look just fine
right now, during our hideous, horrible, hot, sticky, dry summer when many
other things look like they have had the course.
I'd say your cold winters, Bobbi, may make it hard to keep Nandina, except
in a pot...and they will grow in pots.
Marge
where it hit 101F today, oh joy NOT!
Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
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