Grown for its colorful new foliage as much as its delicate
pendulous floral trusses, lily-of-the-valley shrub, Pieris
japonica, is attractive all year.
Name and characteristics:
Grown for its colorful new foliage as much as its delicate pendulous floral trusses, lily-of-the-valley shrub, Pieris japonica, is attractive all year. Short tassels of greenish white, pink or ruddy brown flower buds develop in autumn and stay through early winter. These buds bloom into tiny waxy white flowers by the middle of winter to spring. Some types have pale or rosy pink flowers. The most popular lily-of-the-valley shrubs are generally less than six feet tall and wide.
where to plant
Like related rhododendron and azalea, lily-of-the-valley shrub will tolerate considerable shade. It actually prefers an eastern exposure where it gets plenty of sunlight in the morning. It also likes to be sheltered from wind.
how to care for
Lily-of-the-valley shrub has the same cultural requirements as rhododendron and azalea. It likes slightly acidic soil that both drains well and retains moisture. Selective pruning instead of shearing will preserve the limber branch structure.
where to purchase
Lily-of-the-valley shrub can be found at West Side Nursery of Gilroy (842-8895) and Johnson Garden Center of Morgan Hill (408–779-7171). Nurseries that have rhododendrons and azaleas often also have lily-of-the-valley shrubs.
Tony Tomeo is a consulting horticulturist and arborist for New Image Landscape of Fremont. His weekly radio broadcast, “New Image Garden Report,” can be heard at 8:10am on Friday mornings on KSCO, 1080 AM of Santa Cruz. Tony can be reached at (888) 226-9191 or tt****@ne***************.com.
