Japanese Pieris (How To Grow and Care For Japanese Pieris Shrubs)

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Learn how to grow beautiful Japanese Pieris – an evergreen shrub that thrives in the shade and provides 4-season interest to your garden.

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Japanese Pieris, also known as Pieris japonica (pee-AIR-iss jah-PON-ih-kah ), ‘Andromedia’ or ‘Lily-of-the-Valley’ shrub, is a low maintenance evergreen bush that thrives in part shade and provides four season interest in your garden.

These tips for growing Pieris Japonica are the BEST! I love that it adds interest to the garden all year round. Now I know what to plant in the shady part of my backyard! Definitely pinning! #pieris #pierisjaponica | How to Grow Japanese Pieris #shadeplants #shrubs #bushes #gardening #gardenideas #japanesepieris #plants #perennial #flowers | Photo By KENPEI [GFDL, CC-BY-SA-3.0 or CC BY-SA 2.1 jp], via Wikimedia Commons

Photo By KENPEI [GFDL, CC-BY-SA-3.0 or CC BY-SA 2.1 jp], via Wikimedia Commons

In early spring, the bush is covered in racemes of fragrant white, pink or red bell-shaped flowers that are reminiscent of a profusion of lily-of-the-valley blossoms.

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The shrubs bloom for several weeks, then the bronzy red new foliage emerges. Eventually it matures to glossy dark green evergreen leaves.

In the fall, white bead-like flower buds appear in star shaped tendrils which contrast with the foliage and remain on the shrub all winter. Then they’re ready to start the bloom cycle once again.

A true all season plant!

Where To Grow Japanese Pieris

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These tips for growing Pieris Japonica are the BEST! I love that it adds interest to the garden all year round. Now I know what to plant in the shady part of my backyard! Definitely pinning! #pieris #pierisjaponica | How to Grow Japanese Pieris #shadeplants #shrubs #bushes #gardening #gardenideas #japanesepieris #plants #perennial #flowers Photo by Peter Stevens from Seattle (Pieris japonica) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Photo by Peter Stevens from Seattle (Pieris japonica) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Zone: 5 – 8
Bloom Time: Early spring
Light: Part shade
Height: 3′ to 10′ (depending on the variety)

This member of the heather family is native to the mountainous regions of Japan, Taiwan, and east China.  But it is easy to grow in the North American zone 5 to 8 woodland landscape and has the added bonus of being deer resistant.

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Pieris “Forest Flame”

Pieris grows slowly but can eventually reach a height of more than 10 feet, so make sure to plan for its eventual size.  The 6 year old bush in my Zone 5 garden is only 4′ high and 3′ wide.

There are also hybrid varies that are compact in growth and shorter than the original Pieris japonica.

These tips for growing Pieris Japonica are the BEST! I love that it adds interest to the garden all year round. Now I know what to plant in the shady part of my backyard! Definitely pinning! #pieris #pierisjaponica | How to Grow Japanese Pieris #shadeplants #shrubs #bushes #gardening #gardenideas #japanesepieris #plants #perennial #flowers | Photo by KENPEI [GFDL, CC-BY-SA-3.0 or CC BY-SA 2.1 jp], via Wikimedia Commons

Photo by KENPEI [GFDL, CC-BY-SA-3.0 or CC BY-SA 2.1 jp], via Wikimedia Commons

Although they will grow in full shade, there will be more blossoms and brighter spring foliage if the plant is situated in filtered or partial afternoon shade.

A word of caution, although this plant is lovely to look at, it should not be ingested.  It is poisonous to people and pets.

How To Plant Pieris japonica

These tips for growing Pieris Japonica are the BEST! I love that it adds interest to the garden all year round. Now I know what to plant in the shady part of my backyard! Definitely pinning! #pieris #pierisjaponica | How to Grow Japanese Pieris #shadeplants #shrubs #bushes #gardening #gardenideas #japanesepieris #plants #perennial #flowers | Photo by Stan Shebs [GFDL, CC BY-SA 3.0 or CC BY-SA 2.5], via Wikimedia Commons

Photo by Stan Shebs [GFDL, CC BY-SA 3.0 or CC BY-SA 2.5], via Wikimedia Commons

Acidic soil is required.  I plant mine with a mixture of triple mix and moist peat moss.

Do not plant the root ball below soil level.  Flowering will be reduced if the Pieris is planted too deep.

A 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch helps to conserve water and reduce weeds.

These tips for growing Pieris Japonica are the BEST! I love that it adds interest to the garden all year round. Now I know what to plant in the shady part of my backyard! Definitely pinning! #pieris #pierisjaponica | How to Grow Japanese Pieris #shadeplants #shrubs #bushes #gardening #gardenideas #japanesepieris #plants #perennial #flowers | Photo by Dominicus Johannes Bergsma [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Photo by Dominicus Johannes Bergsma [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Then water to a depth of 3 inches into the surrounding soil, once a week.

Pruning

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Apart from removing the spent flowers with pruning shears*, the only pruning needed is to remove overgrowth or diseased branches.

I have rarely had to prune my Pieris japonica ‘Mountain Fire’.

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Fertilizing

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Fertilize with rhododendron fertilizer* in mid-February and mid-May, if desired, and water it in well.

One gardener told me to dump coffee grounds around the base of the Pieris to maintain soil acidity.  So I do this several times a year and it seems to make my plant happy.

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Common Problems

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Lace bugs can be a problem. If so, spray the leaves thoroughly with insecticidal soap* weekly, until the bugs are gone.

Fungal diseases can also affect Pieris japonica. But they be easily avoided by making sure not to overcrowd your shrubs with surrounding plants.

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Varieties

These are some of the smaller more compact favorites that are perfect for your perennial border.

Pieris japonica ‘Mountain Fire’*

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These tips on growing Pieris Japonica are the best! I love that it adds interest to the garden all year round. Now I know what to plant in the shady part of my backyard! Definitely pinning! | How To Grow Japanese Pieris

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Profusion of white flowers followed by bright red new foliage that turns to dark green. Height 6 feet.

Buy it HERE.*

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Pieris japonica ‘Valley Rose’*

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These tips on growing Pieris Japonica are the best! I love that it adds interest to the garden all year round. Now I know what to plant in the shady part of my backyard! Definitely pinning! | How To Grow Japanese Pieris

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Bronze colored new growth follows pale pink racemes. Height 5 feet.

Buy it HERE.*

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Pieris japonica ‘Valley Valentine’*

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These tips on growing Pieris Japonica are the best! I love that it adds interest to the garden all year round. Now I know what to plant in the shady part of my backyard! Definitely pinning! | How To Grow Japanese Pieris

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Red flowers. Height 7 feet.

Buy it HERE.*

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Pieris japonica ‘Flaming Silver’*

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These tips on growing Pieris Japonica are the best! I love that it adds interest to the garden all year round. Now I know what to plant in the shady part of my backyard! Definitely pinning! | How To Grow Japanese Pieris

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White flowers with variegated foliage.  Height 5 feet.

Buy it HERE.*

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Pieris japonica ‘Katsura’*

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Pieris japonica 'Katsura'

Pieris Japonica ‘Katsura’*

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Rose pink flowers with burgundy new foliage.  Mounding habit. 3′ x 3′ in 5 years.

Buy it here.*

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Companion Plants

Rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias make great companion plants for Japanese Pieris since they all enjoy the same acidic soil and light conditions. You will have a stunning early spring to late spring riot of color.

Under plant these shade-loving shrubs with spring blooming bulbs and winter flowering heather for an even greater impact!

These tips for growing Pieris Japonica are the BEST! I love that it adds interest to the garden all year round. Now I know what to plant in the shady part of my backyard! Definitely pinning! #pieris #pierisjaponica | How to Grow Japanese Pieris #shadeplants #shrubs #bushes #gardening #gardenideas #japanesepieris #plants #perennial #flowers

I have planted 3 ‘Katsura’ bushes this year in a new shady garden bed with a Rhododendron, a Japanese maple, and false cypress, surrounded by Hellebores.  To fill out the empty spots, I plan to add 3 Mountain Laurels when they are available at the nursery.

I hope I have inspired you to use Japanese Pieris in your garden.  I love it in mine.

More shade shrubs you might like

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This post was originally published on August 21, 2017 but was updated with new content on September 12, 2023.


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15 Comments

  1. very good article what is the care for winter my pieris don’t do well I live in zone 5

    1. Hi Willie…a couple of things to try in the winter…cover the base of your Pieris with a thick layer of straw. They do best if they are in a sheltered location. If yours are not, you can create a screen around the plant by sticking poles in the ground and surrounding it with canvas or landscape fabric. Keep the top open so that it still gets the sun. Finally, make sure that it is well watered during the growing season. That will help to prevent it from getting too dehydrated when the ground is frozen. Hope that helps!

  2. thank I sure that it will help

  3. Will my pieris japonica’Mountain Fire’ survive indoors as a house plant?

    1. Hi Rhoeda…I haven’t tried growing them indoors so I’m not sure about that. Since it grows in zones with winter weather, I suspect it might need some cooler temperatures during part of the year to survive.

      1. I will try it indoors this Fall with grow lights and I will check that it has cool temps. I took cuttings just in case.
        I also have fountain grass in containers that the labels say that it is possible to have indoors. I don’t think that I could take cuttings .The label says just to divide it in the Spring.

        I will let you know the results after this 2018 winter.

        1. Thanks, Rhoeda! I’d love to hear how they do 🙂

  4. I live in Houston, Zone 9, with quite a bit of filtered shade in the back yard. I bought the Valentine variety of Pieris Japonica. Can it be grown in a large container or the ground with attention to adding acid fertilizer, etc.?

    1. Hello Anita, Pieris Japonica is well suited to be grown in pots. Make sure the pot has a drainage hole in it. Then put a layer of gravel in the bottom of the pot before adding a soil that has a lot of peat moss in it. Consistent watering is important. Water when the soil feels dry but do not keep it soggy.

  5. Angie Ploegstra says:

    Do Pieris tolerate walnut trees?

    1. Hello Angie,
      I have no experience with pieris and juglone sensitivity and I could not find any information pertaining to your question. However, because pieris need the same growing conditions as azaleas, rhododendron, and mountain laurel, all of which do not tolerate juglone, I suspect that pieris will not thrive under walnut trees. For a list of plants that will, I refer you to http://www.mortonarb.org/trees-plants/tree-and-plant-advice/horticulture-care/plants-tolerant-black-walnut-toxicity.

  6. robin mckenzie says:

    I am thinking of planting a Pieris, Katsura with 2 Pieris, Cavatine between my new concrete side walk and a brick garage wall [25 years old]. The bed is 5’4″ wide and the soil is very alkaline. If I fertilize well with Holly-tone will these survive. The area faces north and gets afternoon sun. Hoping they will do well.

    1. Hello Robin, While I think your Pieris would look stunning in your planned location, I think it would be difficult to maintain the soil acidity they require. I suggest that you go with nature and choose shrubs that like alkaline soil e.g. euonymus, hydrangea, Japanese barberry(check to make sure it is not invasive in your area), boxwood to name a few.

  7. My japonica andromeda has always been a show off. This year the new leaves have gotten very stiff and pointy yet the older leaves are fine. Why has this happened?

    1. Hello Tina I am sorry that I have no idea why your Pieris is not thriving. It doesn’t sound like lace bug infestation or low acid ph. I would take an infected leaf to the local nursery to see if they can help.