Pieris japonica, also known as Japanese Pieris, Japanese Andromeda, or Lily-of-the-Valley Plant, is a hardy and versatile evergreen shrub that provides excellent color and interest throughout the season. During the spring season, bell-shaped, lily-of-the-valley-like blooms provide cascading color to signal the beginning of the new season. But this isn’t the only show that Japanese Pieris provides. New foliage that appears during the growing season emerges in fantastic shades of bronze to bright red, depending on the variety you’ve chosen, before settling into their natural rich green color. The mix of green foliage with red new growth and bright white flowers makes varieties like Pieris japonica ‘Mountain Fire’ a popular choice for many gardeners.
For those of you struggling to find a good color option for your shade gardens, Japanese Pieris may fit the bill, as they prefer partial shade to full sun. They thrive best in slightly acidic soil, so be sure to amend the planting soil with Espoma Organic’s Holly-tone or other acid fertilizer to give the roots a good start.
Meadows Farms carries a wide selection of Japanese Pieris beginning in mid to late-March. Below is just a handful that you’ll find. Please note that sizes and availability may be limited by location, so be sure to contact your local Meadows Farms nursery for pricing and availability information.