Japanese Pieris

Japanese pieris is the broadleaf evergreen shrub that delivers a show every month of the year if you know what to look for. The flower buds form in fall and hang through winter as drooping, burgundy-to-green chains, ornamental in their own right before they even open. In March and April, they open into cascading clusters of small, urn-shaped white or pink flowers that last for weeks. New growth emerges in shades of bronze, red, or pink depending on the cultivar, sometimes brighter than the flowers. The mature foliage is glossy, dark green, and evergreen.

In Western Washington, pieris thrives in the acidic, moist, well-drained conditions that characterize rhododendron country, which is to say, most residential sites in the region. Part shade is ideal. 'Mountain Fire' produces the most intensely red new growth. 'Valley Valentine' has deep pink flowers. 'Variegata' adds cream-edged foliage. The primary pest concern is the andromeda lace bug, which causes stippled, yellowed foliage with dark spots of excrement on the leaf undersides. Scout in spring and treat early if present. Pieris root weevil can also damage roots and notch leaf margins. For a refined, four-season evergreen shrub that anchors the shade garden with flowers, color, and texture, Japanese pieris is one of the essential plants in the regional palette.