This is the month to turn thoughts into action in the garden. Gearing up for spring is great fun, made even better by the choice of shrubs on offer that will give sure-fire colour in the coming weeks. Our ‘Spring choice’ is Pieris japonica, and what a winner it is.
This compact shrub is one of the hardiest and easiest pieris to grow. It produces lovely, glossy evergreen foliage and fabulous flowers. These develop in gorgeous clusters or panicles at the tips of shoots anytime now. Nestling among the mid-green leaves, they look fantastic. For spring impact, this plant really scores and plants do need to earn their space at this time of the year. The great thing about pieris is that the evergreen foliage offers structural benefits all year round, particularly in winter and early spring when beds and borders can look bare.
Great in a shrub border or a woodland garden, Pieris japonica comes from an acid-loving family. However, its compact size means that if you don’t have acid soil, container growing in ericaceous compost is a practical way of bringing the benefits of pieris to your garden. This plant is very well suited to smaller gardens.
Planting in combination with colourful early perennials is an effective way of setting off the white pieris flowers. Corydalis solida ‘Lahovice’ is a good choice for underplanting younger specimens where the flowers of the pieris are close enough to the ground to be viewed alongside those of the perennial. Spring bulbs and heathers also make good companion plants.
Best results in terms of flowering will come if you’re able to plant in a full-sun position, but it will be happy enough in dappled shade. Moist soils are ideal, with moderate levels of fertility. Fully grown, Pieris japonica can reach a height and spread of 4m and 3m respectively.
Maintenance couldn’t be simpler – a light trim following flowering to remove any untidy shoots.
There are few things better than being outside during the kind of glorious afternoons we sometimes get around now. The blackbirds and thrushes keep us company with their songs and squabbles, glad to leave winter behind. Make is a promise to yourself to enjoy as many of these times as you can – and plant some spring flowering shrubs as well!
BASIC PLANT NOTES
- SOIL
Needs an acid soil with moderate fertility levels. Altenatively, plenty of ericaceous compost can help to achieve suitable conditions in borderline cases. Ideally soils should be moist but well drained.
- POSITION
Full sun or dappled shade
- GROWTH FLOWERS AND FOLIAGE
At maturity, Pieris japonica can achieve a height of 4m and a spread of 3. Flowers, white in colour, develop at the tips of stems in long panicles or clusters (15cm). Leaves are mid-green and glossy. Fully hardy
- CARE AND MAINTENANCE
Easy to maintain. Simply trim lightly to remove any untidy shoots following flowering.
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