Practical
Plants

Pieris japonica

Lily Of The Valley Bush

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Ericaceae
Genus
Pieris
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Height
4 m
Spread
4 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

The plant is poisonous[3].

Material uses

The plant is used as a pesticide and a parasiticide[3].

Environment

Range
E. Asia - E. China, Japan.
Habitat
Open forests in mountains[3]. Thickets at elevations of 800 - 1200, occasionally to 1900 metres[9].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
very acid, acid
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - surface sow in the spring on a fine moss peat. Keep the compost moist and place the pot in a shaded part of the greenhouse[7]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a shady part of the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of short side branches with a heel, August/September in a frame[1]. Layering. Offsets.

Cultivation

Easily grown in a moist acid peaty soil but it requires a sheltered position because the young growth is easily damaged by frost[2][4][5][7]. Plants grow best with a western exposure so that they are protected from morning frosts[2]. They flower more freely when grown in a sunny position[7]. Best grown in shade or semi-shade[6], they grow well in a woodland garden[7]. Dormant plants are hardy to about -20°c[5]. A very ornamental plant, there are many named varieties[4][7]. The flowers are delicately scented[8]. A slow growing plant[7]. Plants sometimes succumb to an incurable fungal infection[7]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[7].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  3. Kariyone. T. Atlas of Medicinal Plants.

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

    ↩1↩2

  5. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2

    ↩1↩2

  6. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

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  7. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8

  8. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩

  9. Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

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