Pieris japonica
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- pee-AIR-iss jah-PON-ih-kah
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Japanese pieris is a slow-growing evergreen shrub to small tree in the Ericaceae (heath) family. It is native to eastern China, Taiwan, and Japan where it grows in mountain thickets typically reaching a height of 9 to 13 feet.
Japanese pieris 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. Blooms are effective for 2-3 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 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 is intolerant of wet soils and needs protection from winter winds.
Use in the landscape as a specimen, in massing, foundations, and borders.
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
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Leaf spot, dieback, nematodes, and lace bug 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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- 'Cavatine'
- 'Dorothy Wyckoff'
- 'Flaming Silver'
- 'Katsura'
- 'Mountain Fire'
- 'Mountain Snow'
- 'Prelude'
- ‘Scarlet O’Hara’
- 'Temple Bells'
- 'Valley Rose'
- 'Cavatine'
- 'Cavatine', 'Dorothy Wyckoff', 'Flaming Silver', 'Katsura', 'Mountain Fire', 'Mountain Snow', 'Prelude', ‘Scarlet O’Hara’, 'Temple Bells', 'Valley Rose'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Cavatine'
- 'Dorothy Wyckoff'
- 'Flaming Silver'
- 'Katsura'
- 'Mountain Fire'
- 'Mountain Snow'
- 'Prelude'
- ‘Scarlet O’Hara’
- 'Temple Bells'
- 'Valley Rose'
- 'Cavatine'
- 'Cavatine', 'Dorothy Wyckoff', 'Flaming Silver', 'Katsura', 'Mountain Fire', 'Mountain Snow', 'Prelude', ‘Scarlet O’Hara’, 'Temple Bells', 'Valley Rose'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Pieris
- Species:
- japonica
- Family:
- Ericaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- East Asia
- Wildlife Value:
- Deer resistant
- 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
- 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, 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- 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 in 3-6 inch long terminal, drooping clusters that bloom in late winter to early spring. Individual flowers are 1/4 inch long. There are 5 calyx lobes that are valvate. There are 5 corolla lobes that 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
- 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:
- 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
-
-
Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- High
- Poison Symptoms:
- 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
