WHAT: Pieris japonica is a tried-and-true, all-season wonder in Northwest gardens.
There are nine varieties of the plant, also known as the lily-of-the-valley shrub, on the Great Plant Picks list, allowing gardeners to choose from a wealth of pieris sizes and characteristics.
This week we spotlight the compact variegated variety known as Variegata.
WHY PLANT IT: Elegant, creamy-white-edged foliage covers this shrub year-round.
In late winter, short cascades of small, ivory-white, urn-shaped flowers appear, a favorite of mason bees.
Variegata’s slow, refined growth habit, cold hardiness and resistance to sun damage make it good fit for many gardens.
WHERE: Plant it in bright shade without hot afternoon sun. If it is planted in too much shade, however, flowering can be sparse.
It performs best in a rich, well-drained soil that is slightly acidic. To ensure this, add plenty of organic matter such as compost to the planting site and provide an annual mulch of compost, too.
Poorly drained soils can result in root rot.
HOW: Play off the delicate, evergreen foliage of this shrub with coarser plants, such as rhododendrons or other bolder, variegated plants.
Ferns, hostas and epimediums also thrive in shady locations and contrast well with the fine leaves of pieris.
Faded flowers can be snapped off the base of the cluster if desired, although the dried seed heads are not unattractive.
ACTUAL SIZE: Variegata puts on about 4 inches of growth a year to become a rounded evergreen shrub, about 6 feet tall and 4 feet wide in 10 years.
LEARN MORE: See www.greatplantpicks.org.
Source: Great Plant Picks
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