Pieris japonica (pronounced pee-AIR-iss jah-PON-ih-kah) is a lovely evergreen shrub with a multitude of white bell -shaped blooms held in clusters in late winter to early spring. Flowers are occasionally pink-tinged. New growth is a bronzy red and young stems are yellow-green. Old bloom stems remain attached to the mother plant unless removed.

Pieris is not the easiest of shrubs to grow. It is a member of the heather family (“ericaceous”), which means it enjoys similar conditions as heath, azalea and rhododendron. Plants are hardy in zones 5-8. In the south, Pieris needs partial shade and consistently moist (not wet) acidic soil with plentiful organic matter. It must be shielded from winter winds.

It is easy to overlook that slow-growing Pieris, commonly called Andromeda or Fetterbush, can reach heights of twelve feet or more and up to eight feet wide. Unfortunately, they are prone to numerous problems, including leaf spots, lace bugs, scale, nematodes, and unexplained dieback. Both flowers and leaves are extremely poisonous to humans, cats, dogs, and horses. On the positive side, it is somewhat deer resistant.

Numerous cultivars are available.