General Information
Pieris is a compact, broadleaf evergreen shrub with much appeal as a landscape plant. It’s quite versatile and works well with other broadleaf evergreens, in the shrub border, as a foundation plant, or massed in the woodland garden. Its attractive foliage emerges bronzed or red, and it bears snowy white pendulous blooms in late winter and early spring. One note of caution is its toxicity to livestock.
Plant Habit and Form
Pieris japonica has a neat, mounding, haystack-shaped form. Its branches are spreading with somewhat tiered branching to the ground. It grows 9 to 12 feet high with a spread of 6 to 8 feet. New leaf growth is a rich bronze to red color maturing to dark green. The trunk is dark brown and furrowed.
Growing Requirements
Pieris grows in zones 4b (with some protection) to 7. It appreciates moist, acid, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. It tolerates full sun preferring partial shade, and requires some shade in the South.
Flowering and Fruiting
Pendulous, branched inflorescences (up to 6 inches long) with urn-shaped, showy white flowers bloom March to April. Light green or red floral buds form during summer and remain attractive throughout fall and winter. Brown capsule-like fruit persists through the year on fruiting stalks.
Pests and Diseases
Lace bug, mites, and chlorosis (due to alkaline or neutral pH soils) can be problematic.
ID Tips
Upright, multistemmed evergreen shrub with bronze to red new leaf growth maturing to dark green and winter floral buds opening late winter or early spring as pendulous panicles of white, urn-shaped flowers.
