Pieris japonica
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- pee-AIR-iss jah-PON-ih-kah
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Pieris japonica is an evergreen shrub to small tree that grows 9-13' in the heath family, Ericaceae. It is native to eastern China, Taiwan, and Japan where it grows in mountain thickets. 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 (or pink) inflorescences that bloom in late winter to early spring and blooms are effective for 2-3 weeks. Dried inflorescence persists into winter unless removed. Sympodial growth with crowded, rosette-like leaves on greenish-yellow twigs. New growth is bronze-red or purplish. It is used as a specimen, massing, foundations, and borders. Some shade is required in southern gardens.
This plant prefers full sun to partial shade. Prefers moist, well-drained, acidic soil enriched with organic matter. This plant is intolerant of wet soils. It has a very slow growth rate. Leaf spot, dieback, nematodes, and lace bug are major problems.
HIGHLY TOXIC, MAY BE FATAL IF EATEN!
Quick ID Hints:
- Reproductive structures are visible year-round
- White/pink urceolate flowers in pendulous chains
- New growth is bronze-purplish, stems are yellow-green
- Evergreen shrub with sympodial growth, rosette-like leaves
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Cavatine'
- 'Dorothy Wyckoff'
- 'Flaming Silver'
- 'Katsura'
- 'Mountain Fire'
- 'Mountain Snow'
- 'Prelude'
- 'Temple Bells'
- 'Valley Rose'
- 'Cavatine'
- 'Cavatine', 'Dorothy Wyckoff', 'Flaming Silver', 'Katsura', 'Mountain Fire', 'Mountain Snow', 'Prelude', 'Temple Bells', 'Valley Rose'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Cavatine'
- 'Dorothy Wyckoff'
- 'Flaming Silver'
- 'Katsura'
- 'Mountain Fire'
- 'Mountain Snow'
- 'Prelude'
- 'Temple Bells'
- 'Valley Rose'
- 'Cavatine'
- 'Cavatine', 'Dorothy Wyckoff', 'Flaming Silver', 'Katsura', 'Mountain Fire', 'Mountain Snow', 'Prelude', 'Temple Bells', 'Valley Rose'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Pieris
- Species:
- japonica
- Family:
- Ericaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- East Asia
- Dimensions:
- Height: 9 ft. 0 in. - 13 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 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:
- Erect
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- 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
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4b, 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits are a dehiscent, 5-valved capsule that persist into winter.
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-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Winter
- Flower Shape:
- Urn
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- 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 (or pink) inverted urn-shaped flowers, 3-6 in terminal, drooping clusters, that bloom in late winter to early spring. There are 5 calyx loves that are valvate. There are 5 corolla lobes that are waxy and urceolate. There are 10 stamens. Inflorescence is an axillary, pendulous, racemose panicle to 5". There is a long arching baaly that forms hanging chains of flowers.
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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, obovate-oblong to oblanceolate, acute to obtuse, cuneate, crenate-serrate, coriaceous, 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
- Dark Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Fissured
- Bark Description:
- Bark is grey to brown 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.
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-
Landscape:
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Mass Planting
- Specimen
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
-
-
Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- High
- Poison Symptoms:
- HIGHLY TOXIC, MAY BE FATAL IF EATEN! 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
