Pieris japonica also known as Japanese Pieris, Japanese Andromeda or Lily of the Valley Shrub is a multi-stemmed, medium-sized, upright to spreading broadleaf evergreen, ornamental shrub, that can grow up to 3 m tall, but often remains smaller, with a slow growing rate, with upright irregular to upright oval growth habit in youth, becoming a spreading mound growth habit with age, with somewhat tiered branching to the ground.
It is grown for its emerging bronzed foliage, dark shiny evergreen mature foliage on chartreuse stems, showy, prominent drooping panicles of floral buds that mature in late summer and are attractive in autumn and winter, opening in very late winter or early spring as pendulous clusters of slightly fragrant, urn-shaped, white, pink or red flowers, depending on the cultivar, which precede the emergence of the bronzed new foliage.
They can be grown in shrub borders or used as foundation shrubs around the home or as understory shrubs, usually found in shady areas as a specimen to create a nice focal point, or at an entranceway, in a group planting or for screening or hedge, but they are also good as container plants and companion plants with Rhododendrons.
It grows and flowers well in a place with partial shade to full sun, in moist, lime-free, humus-rich, well-drained, acidic soils. For best results provide good drainage for the plants and make sure that the soil in which they are planted contain a high content of organic humus which you can add at planting time, in the form of peat moss, compost or processed manure. Protect them from hot afternoon sun if they are planted in a place with full sun, in warmer climates and from strong winter winds in northern zones. They will flower more abundantly if they are planted in a place with full sun, but there is the risk of the soil drying out. They will withstand temperatures of minus 20 Celsius degrees (-4 F), but the new foliage can be damaged by a moderate frost. This causes the plant to form new shoots and fresh leaves. Deadhead old flowers to improve the appearance of the plants and to promote next year's buds.
Container grown plants can be planted at any time throughout the year. The winter months and early spring are best for transplanting established plants in your garden. When planting or transplanting be certain to set the top of the root ball right at soil level. Planting too deeply can reduce eventual flowering.
Propagation can be done by hardwood cuttings taken in winter, greenwood cuttings in early summer, or semi-ripe cuttings with bottom heat in mid- to late summer. It can also be propagated from seeds sown in a cold frame in spring or fall.
