Nandina and Lophomyrtus

gardenman91

Good evening all, I’ve got a Nandina domestica Fire Power and Lophomyrtus x ralphi Magic Dragon, both of which aren’t performing very well! Both have lost quite a few leaves every year, I’m wondering if the Lophomyrtus tolerates hard pruning?

Both are in neutral to alkaline soil and get their fair share of wind!

Any thoughts?

Robert West

Hello,

I don't know the answer to your question (I'd be interested to read what others have to say), but I just wanted to say that it's almost certainly the wind that is the issue.

I've got two Nandinas both in East facing borders. One does brilliantly in its sheltered position, the other one not so well. The 2nd one has always been in a slightly less sheltered spot and has often had a bit of wind damage coming out of winter, but this year it's looking much worse since the neighbours removed their hedge in autumn! We've had a lot of cold winds this year, my bamboos look very battered.

gardenman91

Unfortunately my bamboo always gets battered, I’m wondering if it would appreciate a good mulch of some manure!

PeggyTX

Are your Nandina 'Firepower' potted?  If so, they will do much better direct in the ground, particularly in cold weather.  I have had 6 for some 10 years now and they gradually lose most of their Fall-colored leaves every year in winter (that's normal). Mine, too, are in fairly alkaline soil and get a fair amount of wind from time to time. They have always put on new leaves in the spring and filled out to about 2' tall in their pots each season.  I just love the lime green color of the new leaves in Spring. 

Mine were potted in VERY large pots and did fine in those all these years, until this year, when Texas had an arctic freeze in February that dropped us to 2ºF (-16ºC).  All 6 potted shrubs died.  Their replacements will be planted out in the ground for certain, because the two Firepowers I have planted in the ground were unscathed by the freeze.  

Nollie

My Nandina are in a south-facing garden, protected by a heat-retaining stone wall. Those continuous frosty mornings and cold, desiccating northerly winds have caused some dieback here too, even though I have been watering. Plants will be so much thirstier than you think as a result of drying winds, it sucks all the moisture out of the leaves, so lack of water is a major factor. You need to be watering to help the plant regain resilience, early in the morning is best, so the plant cells have time to absorb the water before sundown and temperature drops.

gardenman91

Thanks for the replies @PeggyTX @Nollie. I’ll give them a good drink and mulch and see what happens @PeggyTX my nandina is in the ground