Pieris japonica
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Andromeda japonica
- Phonetic Spelling
- pi-ER-is ja-PON-i-ca
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Japanese pieris is a slow-growing evergreen shrub to a small tree in the Ericaceae (heath) family. It is an upright to spreading ornamental shrub, noted for its emerging bronzed foliage, showy floral buds that mature in late summer and are attractive in fall and winter, and showy white inflorescences that bloom in the spring. Blooms are present for two or three weeks. Dried inflorescence persists into winter unless removed. Sympodial growth features crowded, rosette-like leaves on greenish-yellow twigs. New growth is bronze-red or purplish.
This plant is native to eastern China, Taiwan, and Japan where it grows in mountain thickets typically reaching a height of 9 to 13 feet.
This plant prefers full sun to partial shade. Some shade is required in southern gardens. It prefers moist, well-drained, acidic soil enriched with organic matter. It is intolerant to wet soils and needs protection from winter winds.
Use in the landscape as a specimen, in massing, foundations, and borders. Due to the toxicity of the leaves and nectar of this plant, if ingested, the Japanese pieris should be used with caution around young children and pets.
Seasons of Interest:
Blooms: Spring Foliage: Spring, Summer, and Fall Fruit: Summer, Fall, and Winter
Quick ID Hints:
- Reproductive structures are visible year-round
- White/pink urn-shaped flowers in pendulous chains
- New growth is bronze-purplish, stems are yellow-green
- Evergreen shrub with sympodial growth, rosette-like leaves
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Leaf spot, dieback, and Phytophthora root can occur. Nematodes and lace bugs are major problems. Consider planting native alternatives found in the left column.
VIDEO created by Ryan Contreras for “Landscape Plant Materials I: Deciduous Hardwoods and Conifers or Landscape Plant Materials II: Spring Flowering Trees and Shrubs” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Bert Chandler'
white flowers, salmon pink new foliage then white to light green - 'Cavatine'
compact, low growing mound, white flowers - 'Dorothy Wyckoff'
red flower bud, pale pink to white flowers - 'Flaming Silver'
young leaves red, margins pink then silver white, white flowers - 'Katsura'
- 'Mountain Fire'
vivid red new growth, white flowers - 'Mountain Snow'
- 'Prelude'
dwarf, 2 to 3 feet, white flowers - ‘Scarlet O’Hara’
narrow habit, bronze new growth, white flowers - 'Temple Bells'
- 'Valley Rose'
pastel pink flowers, deep green foliage
- 'Bert Chandler'
- 'Bert Chandler', 'Cavatine', 'Dorothy Wyckoff', 'Flaming Silver', 'Katsura', 'Mountain Fire', 'Mountain Snow', 'Prelude', ‘Scarlet O’Hara’, 'Temple Bells', 'Valley Rose'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Bert Chandler'
white flowers, salmon pink new foliage then white to light green - 'Cavatine'
compact, low growing mound, white flowers - 'Dorothy Wyckoff'
red flower bud, pale pink to white flowers - 'Flaming Silver'
young leaves red, margins pink then silver white, white flowers - 'Katsura'
- 'Mountain Fire'
vivid red new growth, white flowers - 'Mountain Snow'
- 'Prelude'
dwarf, 2 to 3 feet, white flowers - ‘Scarlet O’Hara’
narrow habit, bronze new growth, white flowers - 'Temple Bells'
- 'Valley Rose'
pastel pink flowers, deep green foliage
- 'Bert Chandler'
- 'Bert Chandler', 'Cavatine', 'Dorothy Wyckoff', 'Flaming Silver', 'Katsura', 'Mountain Fire', 'Mountain Snow', 'Prelude', ‘Scarlet O’Hara’, 'Temple Bells', 'Valley Rose'
- Tags:
-
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Pieris
- Species:
- japonica
- Family:
- Ericaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- SE China, Central to Southern Japan, and Taiwan
- Distribution:
- Native; China South-Central, China Southeast, Japan, Taiwan. Introduced: United States--VT
- Wildlife Value:
- Deer resistant
- Dimensions:
- Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits are dry, small, 1/4-inch, dehiscent, 5-valved capsules that ripen in late summer and persist into winter.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Urn
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The showy floral buds mature in late summer and are attractive in fall and winter. They give way to showy white inverted urn-shaped flowers in 3-6 inch long terminal, drooping clusters or racemes that bloom in spring. Individual flowers are 1/4 inch long. Five calyx lobes are valvate. Five corolla lobes are waxy and urceolate. There are 10 stamens.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblanceolate
- Oblong
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are alternate, leathery, simple, crowded rosette-like at branch tips. Shape is obovate-oblong to oblanceolate with acute to obtuse tips, cuneate bases, and crenate-serrate margins. They are dark green above and lighter green beneath, glabrous, and 1-4" in size. New growth is bronze-green to reddish or pinkish.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Fissured
- Bark Description:
- The bark is reddish brown, scaly, split, and vertically fissured when mature.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Twigs are hairless. Stems are green to yellow-green, glabrous when young, and have sympodial growth. The leaves cluster near the branch tips.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Mass Planting
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Problems:
- Frequent Disease Problems
- Frequent Insect Problems
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
-
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- High
- Poison Symptoms:
- The leaves and nectar are poisonous. Tingling sensation, salivation, nose running, eyes watering, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, abdominal pain, headache, cardiac failure, weakness, and convulsions; may be fatal.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Andromedotoxin, Grayanotoxins
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Flowers
- Leaves
- Sap/Juice
