Three-Season Interest from the Japanese Pieris

Japanese Pieris (Pieris japonica) is a glorious, well-behaved flowering shrub that deserves a place is shady, moist areas. Save some space because this pieris can reach 8-12 feet high and spread 6-8 feet wide. This shrub is hardy in Zones 5 to 8.

The overall shape is appealing, something like a pile of arching branches that reach the ground. The leaf color offers more to like. There are rich, dark green leaves throughout the growing season. The color of the spring growth depends on the cultivar but could be apple-green, chartreuse, dark red, or a bronze flame. The shrub features white flowers (some cultivars flower in pink) that drape in panicles 3-6 inches long in March and April, and bring with them a light fragrance.

The next year's flower buds form during July and August, so don't prune or the flowers will be sacrificed. The clusters of flower buds are a feature in the fall and early winter. The shrub does produce fruit, but it not a significant part of the plant. Spent flowers should be removed.

Japanese pieris wants to be in partial shade planted in rich, moist, slightly acidic soil. When first planting this pieris, add lots of peat moss, composted manure, or organic humus. The shrub will tolerate full sun, nutrient-poor and compacted soils, and calcareous soils with an alkaline pH. Investing in a soil test is good insurance for better growth. This is a slow growing shrub, so always buy the largest shrub that fits in the budget.

This pieris is a good choice for a foundation plant. It looks good en masse, or as part of an understory grouping. Pieris is also a fine addition to a shrub border since it is usually the first to bloom in the spring. The shrub is deer resistant, but should be provided protection from strong winds.

Inspect the Japanese pieris regularly for lace bugs. These insects can suck the sap from the leaves. A symptom of infection is yellowing leaves. Experts at Ohio State University advice, "Many insecticides, including insecticidal soaps, will control this pest. Key to control is applying the insecticide to the underside of the leaves where the lace bugs live. Because there can be as many as three generations of lace bugs each growing season, you must keep your eye on the plant and treat when new damage is noticed."

Cultivars available in the trade include 'Mountain Fire', 'Valley Valentine', and 'Variegata', 'Dorothy Wycoff', 'Purity', 'Red Mill', 'Scarlet O'Hara' and 'Brouwer's Beauty'. There are also some dwarf varieties including 'Bisbee-Dwarf', 'Bonsai', 'Pygaea', 'Compacta' and 'Nocturne'.