Will global warming make Pieris japonica a plant of the past?

For years, this has been my favorite shrub for shady spots because of its outstanding appearance all year long. Long white flowers appear in March and April, but its evergreen foliage gets lots of attention, too, especially the new growth that appears in fabulous shades of reds.

 

Then just this year I started hearing gardening experts warn that global warming is NOT being kind to this plant, and one has even stopped recommending it.  Say it isn't so!  Maybe now's a good time to look into similar plants like the American species and Japanese-American hybrids (more on them below). 

Photo credit.

DETAILS

• The straight species can grow (slowly) to 8 or more feel tall, but many shorter varieties are available.-12 tall )  

• Hardy to Zones 5-8 Japan.   

• Performs best   in partial shade and acid soil.

CARE

• Pieris has only average drought-tolerance, so needs watering  during dry periods.
• Really requires no pruning but if you do you prune, do it after flowering to avoid cutting off the buds.
• Unless your soil is already acidic, apply Hollytone or other organic fertilizer for acid-soil-loving plants every spring.
• Lacebug is a common and serious pest that sucks the sap from the leaves, yellowing them.  Adequate shade, water and soil acidity reduces its vulnerability, however.

Photo credit.

PIERIS FLORIBUNDA, AND HYBRIDS OF THE TWO SPECIES

Pieris floribunda, a native plant from Virginia to Georgia, is 2 to 6' tall, with a greater spread.   It's harder to propagate so, not surprisingly, it's not as available as the Japanese species.  Woody plant expert Michael Dirr reports learning that the natives consistently die out in the Atlanta area but that hybrids (crossed with the Japanese species) do just fine there.      

Comments

[weeping sore]

Hi, I just found your blog on Transplantable Rose's link list. I lived in Takoma Park before I moved to San Diego in the 1970's. My generous climate makes up for what I lack in gardening skill.
I hope you'll share pictures of azaleas when they bloom. I left a few behind and they don't care for my poorly drained soil.

[Eric]

Oh, Susan, I hope global warming doesn't impact this plant, because where my mother gardens in southern Connecticut, this is one of the few woody shrubs that the deer DO NOT eat! And she's got a huge deer problem there so she's got lots' of 'em growing everywhere. As for me, I'm in blissfully deer-free downtown Rockville, Maryland, and I've got one rather scraggly, pathetic-looking excuse for a pieris that I planted nearly ten years ago...I've moved it several times, thinking it was just unhappy in it's micro-climate and perhaps it needed a change of venue elsewhere in yard, but it continues to look sickly. I haven't the heart to rip it out, though, and in the last two years it's actually grown a smidgen, so it's been given a stay of execution for now.

[Gerri]

I planted this in the spring(michigan)...the leaves are now turning yellow....is this normal, or is something wrong?

[Jon Youngdahl]

I too have recently planted two pieris that are in partial sun on a slight grade in natural, ammended soil with excellent drainage. The leaves started to yellow and then gradually have fallen off. To think it looked so beautiful when planted and was carefully watered and fertilized as noted above. I would surmise that they succumed to either pests or disease. If you have had similar situations in the MD/DC area, would love to hear your solutions for maintaining a healty plant.