Pieris japonica
Species of flowering plant
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pieris japonica, the Japanese andromeda or Japanese pieris, is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae. It is native to eastern China, Taiwan, and Japan, where it grows in mountain thickets.[2] This medium-sized evergreen shrub or tree is widely cultivated in gardens.
| Pieris japonica | |
|---|---|
| |
| Inflorescence | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Spermatophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Ericaceae |
| Genus: | Pieris |
| Species: | P. japonica |
| Binomial name | |
| Pieris japonica | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
|
Andromeda japonica Thunb. L. | |
Description
It grows to 1–4 metres or 3.3–13.1 feet tall, occasionally up to 10 metres. Its leaves are arranged alternately and are simple, obovate to oblanceolate in shape, 3 to 9 cm long, with serrated margins.[3][4] They are lustrous and leathery in texture and dark green in color while new growth is a conspicuous bronze or red eventually turning green.
It blooms from early to late spring with drooping trusses of fragrant, white or pink urn-shaped flowers about 10 cm long hanging from the tips of the branches.[3][4] Each flower is about 5 to 6 mm long and its clusters with their long blooming season[4] provide a decorative effect against the young red leaves. The flowers usually last two or three weeks.
The plant is poisonous if consumed.[3][4][5] The toxicity is a result of the grayanotoxins contained by the flowers and leaves. If flowers and leaves are ingested by humans, symptoms may include salivation, headaches, vomiting, cardiac failure, and death.[4] Cattle, goats, horses, dogs, and cats may suffer similar symptoms after ingesting the leaves or flowers of this plant.[6]
The name "andromeda" originated from an earlier genus name for the plant.
Cultivation
Pieris japonica is a popular temperate garden plant, producing colour in early spring. A calcifuge, it requires acid pH soil, typically in a partially shaded setting such as dappled woodland. It associates well with camellias, rhododendrons, and other lime-hating plants.
Cultivars
The following cultivars have received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:
- 'Blush'[7] pink/red flowers, 2.5 m (8.2 ft)
- 'Bonfire'[8] - pink/white flowers, 1 m (3.3 ft)
- 'Carnaval'[9] red/pink leaves turning green edged white, white flowers, 1.5 m (4.9 ft)
- 'Cavatine'[10] - white flowers, 0.5 m (1.6 ft)
- 'Debutante'[11] - cream flowers, 1 m (3.3 ft)
- 'Firecrest'[12] - foliage red to green, flowers pink 2.5 m (8.2 ft)
- 'Flaming Silver'[13] - young red foliage turning green margined silver, 1.5 m (4.9 ft)
- 'Mountain Fire'[14] - red leaves turning green, white flowers 4 m (13 ft)
- 'Pink Delight'[15] - foliage bronze to green, flowers pink to white, 1.5 m (4.9 ft)
- 'Prelude'[16] - cream/white flowers, 1 m (3.3 ft)
- 'Purity'[17] - white flowers, 1.5 m (4.9 ft)
- 'Sarabande'[18] - white flowers, 2.5 m (8.2 ft)
- 'Valley Valentine'[19] - red flowers, 2.5 m (8.2 ft)
