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Pieris japonica

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pieris japonica
Inflorescence
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
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.

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.

Description

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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

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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

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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)

References

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  1. ^ "Pieris japonica". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  2. ^ Fang Ruizheng, Peter F. Stevens. "Pieris japonica". Flora of China. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  3. ^ a b c "Pieris japonica | Landscape Plants | Oregon State University". landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu. Retrieved 2024-03-01.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Pieris japonica (Andromeda Japonica, Fetterbush, Japanese Andromeda, Japanese Pieris, Lily-of-the-valley Bush, Pieris) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox". plants.ces.ncsu.edu. Retrieved 2021-03-11.
  5. ^ Smith, M. C. (1978). "Japanese pieris poisoning in the goat". Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 173 (1): 78–79. PMID 670056.
  6. ^ "Guide to Poisonous Plants – College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences – Colorado State University". csuvth.colostate.edu. Retrieved 2021-03-11.
  7. ^ "Pieris japonica 'Blush'". RHS. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  8. ^ "Pieris japonica 'Bonfire'". RHS. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  9. ^ "Pieris japonica 'Carnaval'". RHS. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  10. ^ "Pieris japonica 'Cavatine'". RHS. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  11. ^ "Pieris japonica". RHS. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  12. ^ "Pieris 'Firecrest'". RHS. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  13. ^ "Pieris japonica 'Flaming Silver'". RHS. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  14. ^ "Pieris japonica 'Mountain Fire'". RHS. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  15. ^ "Pieris japonica 'Pink Delight'". RHS. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  16. ^ "Pieris japonica 'Prelude'". RHS. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  17. ^ "Pieris japonica 'Purity'". RHS. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  18. ^ "Pieris japonica 'Sarabande'". RHS. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  19. ^ "Pieris japonica 'Valley Valentine'". RHS. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
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