Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Plant Profile: Pieris japonica 'Valley Vallentine'

Pieris (common name Japanese Andromedea) are a species of shrubs that have everything. They are evergreen, low-maintenance, flowering, deer resistant, and shade loving. Pieris thrive where Rhododendrons mights get ravaged by the deer or where sun-loving evergreens might suffer from lack of light. Varieties range in size from 3 to 4 feet tall and wide to 9 to 12 feet tall and 6 to 7 feet wide, so be sure to check the mature size of what ever variety you bring home!

'Valley Valentine' is a medium-large scale Pieris, growing 6 to 7 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide. This shrub has brilliant, saturated pink blooms and the sweetest springtime fragrance.


PIERIS JAPONICA 'VALLEY VALENTINE'

DEER RESISTANT SHADE PLANT - LOW MAINTENANCE
zone 5
6' - 7" tall and 4' - 5' wide
blooms: early spring





The downward-facing cascades of flowers attract bees and other pollinators. Some of the first flowers in the landscape, Pieris shrubs are often "a-buzz" with busy bees, starved from the long winter.