Lily Of The Valley Bush, Japanese pieris, Japanese Andromeda, Lily of the Valley Shrub, Japanese Pie
Pieris japonica

Family: Ericaceae

What it is like

Bloom Color: White. Main Bloom Time: Early spring, Late spring, Mid spring. Form: Oval.

Pieris japonica is an evergreen Shrub growing to 4 m (13ft) by 4 m (13ft) at a slow rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in leaf all year, in flower from April to May, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid soils and can grow in very acid soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 4

Where it is found

Open forests in mountains. Thickets at elevations of 800 - 1200, occasionally to 1900 metres.

E. Asia - E. China, Japan.

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

How it is used

Food

Rating: 0

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating:

The plant is used as a pesticide and a parasiticide.

Scented Plants: Plants noted for their scent

How it is grown

Landscape Uses:Border, Massing, Screen, Specimen, Woodland garden. Easily grown in a moist acid peaty soil but it requires a sheltered position because the young growth is easily damaged by frost. Plants grow best with a western exposure so that they are protected from morning frosts. They flower more freely when grown in a sunny position. Best grown in shade or semi-shade, they grow well in a woodland garden. Dormant plants are hardy to about -20°c. A very ornamental plant, there are many named varieties. The flowers are delicately scented. A slow growing plant. Plants sometimes succumb to an incurable fungal infection. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus. Special Features:Not North American native, Blooms are very showy.

Propagating it: Seed - surface sow in the spring on a fine moss peat. Keep the compost moist and place the pot in a shaded part of the greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a shady part of the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of short side branches with a heel, August/September in a frame. Layering. Offsets.

Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; not Deep Shade;

Habit: Shrub

Hardiness: 4-7

Growth: Slow

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Full shade, semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

The plant is poisonous.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

P. taiwanensis. P. yakushimensis. Andromeda japonica.