Pieris japonica the lily-of-the-valley bush

I am preparing an entry in the plant gallery and thought I would post my notes here on the blog as I continue filling out the cultural advice for the growing guide on RSG. This is one of my favorite shrubs species from Japan and other Asian countries for growing in the NW.

As with most shrubs in the Ericaceae family, Pieris japonica grows best in low ph soil, making this carefree shrub a perfect choice for our native soils that are typically acidic.  The shrub is a late winter bloomer here in the maritime Pacific Northwest.  Its new foliage in spring is red, much like photinia; however, unlike the fast moving photinias, pieris growth is slow.  I’m grateful we planted these shrubs when we first arrived at our new property, since my ten-year-old plants reach only about six feet tall.  Even though they grow slowly, they are handsome year round, with their evergreen leaves held in whorls. The six-inch long panicles filled with sweet-smelling, small white flowers on red stems cover the shrub in late winter.  When I park in my driveway and see them, the flowers are a welcome sight, signaling the end of the dark, cold days of the season.

In full sun, the shrub flowers prolifically, but grows slower.  The shrub grows faster in shade, but has fewer flowers.  I grow mine as large shrubs, but they are just as handsome limbed up to look like small trees, providing more real estate underneath for planting ferns, perennials or ground covers.  Pieris tolerates salt spray, and thus is a good candidate for planting along the coast.  These shrubs are poisonous.

Comments

[JeanneK]

I love my pieris because they are such care-free plants that provide structure in the garden. They have a very nice form. I love the white bell-like flowers. I have 'Varigata'. I love the varigated green and white leaves.

[Carol in Mass.]

Welcome to blotanical. Glad to have found your blog. I like the name! Mucking about is what we do around here, especially in "Mud Season" aka: March!
Carol
terranovadesign.bospot.com

[Debbie]

Jeanne, That variegated one is so nice. I have a dwarf variegated cultivar named P. japonica 'Little Heath' that is sweet.

Carol, Yeh we have our mud season to: November-April! Although I like the British definition of muck about. So I thought the two meanings would tell the story well.

[Bonnie Story]

Pieris (Andromeda?) is also apparently VERY deer-resistant!! My neighbor has a few planted out at the end of her driveway where the deer often congregate - and not a nibble! We have very large hungry deer around here and for such a lovely decorative plant to avoid being eaten is a miracle. Yet another great quality about this pretty shrub. Bonnie

[Debbie]

That's good to know! Maybe because the shrubs are poisonous to humans they also are harmful to deer.