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Pieris japonica - (Thunb.)D.Don.

Common Name Lily Of The Valley Bush, Japanese pieris, Japanese Andromeda, Lily of the Valley Shrub, Japanese Pie
Family Ericaceae
USDA hardiness 4-7
Known Hazards The plant is poisonous[174].
Habitats Open forests in mountains[174]. Thickets at elevations of 800 - 1200, occasionally to 1900 metres[266].
Range E. Asia - E. China, Japan.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Full shade Semi-shade Full sun
Pieris japonica Lily Of The Valley Bush, Japanese pieris, Japanese Andromeda, Lily of the Valley Shrub, Japanese Pie


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Tarabagani
Pieris japonica Lily Of The Valley Bush, Japanese pieris, Japanese Andromeda, Lily of the Valley Shrub, Japanese Pie
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Wouterhagens

 

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Summary

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


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
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.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

P. taiwanensis. P. yakushimensis. Andromeda japonica.

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; not Deep Shade;

Edible Uses

None known

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

The plant is used as a pesticide and a parasiticide[174].

Special Uses

Scented Plants

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

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[11, 182, 184, 200]. Plants grow best with a western exposure so that they are protected from morning frosts[11]. They flower more freely when grown in a sunny position[200]. Best grown in shade or semi-shade[188], they grow well in a woodland garden[200]. Dormant plants are hardy to about -20°c[184]. A very ornamental plant, there are many named varieties[182, 200]. The flowers are delicately scented[245]. A slow growing plant[200]. Plants sometimes succumb to an incurable fungal infection[200]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[200]. Special Features:Not North American native, Blooms are very showy.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

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Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

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[200]. 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[1]. Layering. Offsets.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: China (Anhui Sheng, Fujian Sheng, Hubei Sheng, Jiangxi Sheng, Zhejiang Sheng), Japan (Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku), Taiwan

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

(Thunb.)D.Don.

Botanical References

11200266

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Van Santvoort   Tue Mar 25 2008

Pieris.eu Information about pieris japonica

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