Among evergreen shrubs, the Japanese andromeda, Pieris japonica, is outstanding. Its shade tolerance and all-season interest make it a valuable shrub in any garden.
The rich glossy green leaves look attractive year-round and in spring, they form a background for the small, white, bell-shaped flowers that hang in cascading clusters like strings of beads. This gives it another common name, lily-of-the-valley shrub, as the flowers closely resemble that small groundcover. Even before the flowers open, the buds are attractive through the winter hanging in drooping clusters from red stems.
When the new foliage appears, it is bright red, and it is very showy against the older, dark green leaves and white flowers. The varieties ‘Forest Flame’ and ‘Mountain Fire’ have especially brilliant new growth.
Pieris is a shrub that grows to about 8 feet tall, with a loose, graceful habit. It does well with the same soil and exposure as camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas, and makes a good companion plant. It is very hardy and is never damaged by cold weather. It is, however, shallow-rooted, so a layer of mulch is a good idea.
Other than removing dead or broken limbs, it is not necessary to prune pieris, as the natural form is quite picturesque. Remove spent flowers after they have finished blooming.
Pieris, especially dwarf varieties like ‘Cavatine’, make fine container plants. They are valuable in a shaded entryway where year-round attractiveness is important.