The Pieris Japonica is a Wonderful Ornamental Shrub

The Pieris Japonica is a gorgeous ornamental shrub. I consider this plant specimen to complete a full season landscape area. When doing any garden or particular bed, your goal is to think about having color year around. In spring you have trees and shrubs beginning to bloom. Summer time is filled with colorful flowers, herbs and other ornamental plants. In fall the vibrant shapes of red, orange, and yellow appear on the trees. In winter there also can be color in your gardens. This Japonica comes alive in late autumn and the blooms appear anywhere from November through the entire winter season. Not only is this plant specimen native to Japan, it is seen widely throughout eastern China as well as Taiwan.The Pieris is popular in many Yen gardens as well as formal or informal. It can survive in zones four and will live up to zone nine.

This plant can grow from three to twelve feet tall and four to six feet wide. In northern climates it can take full sun. In warmer zones, partial shade is best. It should be kept in well drained soil and watering can be done on a regular schedule. The Pieris is also called Andromedia. The highlight of this plant is the unique structure of the flowers. Pink or white strains of tiny flowers naturally flow freely throughout the plant. It is a fantastic showcase beside some solid color evergreens.

White Flowing Flowers

Blue Owl Juniper

Globe Arborvitae

I love putting some Blue Owl Junipers around the Japonica as well as some Globe Arborvitaes. If you need a back drop go with something taller such as an Emerald Green Arborvitae or Leyland Cypress. The three combination plants creative a wonderful color and texture garden. The Pieris Japonica fits just about in any garden setting and is a great addition to any outdoor feature. Other plants to think about putting next to this one for more winter color are the Japonica Camellia family.

Some other features of this plant are the new growth that appears in the spring after the flowers have died out. A red tone develops and the plant takes on a whole new look.

Mountain Fire

In summer, the foliage takes on a deep green tone. There are different varieties such as a Mountain Fire. It is a low spreading evergreen ranging from two to six feet in height and loves rocky terrain and will fine in full sun. This variety has soft pink flowers and is a show case in an area with natural rocks or a specific bed done with decorative stones. Variegata has white flowers and can reach ten feet tall. Below is a picture of a mass of Pieris Japonica.

Mass Of White

A positive feature of this plant specimen is there isn't a need to prune unless you want to keep it formed. I like to see the Pieris in its natural shape and recommend to my clients to trim off the dead flowers in the spring time. The Andromeda is indeed a wonderful specimen year around with its changes in color from spring throughout the colder winter months. A great plant for those chilly winter days.