Pieris japonica Bonfire - Japanese Andromeda

Pieris japonica 'Bonfire' is a variety of small size, making it perfect for small spaces and ornamenting a container on a terrace. This shrub of non-calcareous soil is interesting for the salmon colour of its young satin leaves which turn green when mature. In spring, it bears abundant clusters of beautiful creamy white flowers. By illuminating the semi-shaded areas of the garden or terrace, this bush offers a charming and colourful spectacle throughout the year! 

Pieris japonica, commonly called Japanese Andromeda, is native to eastern China, Japan, and Taiwan. It belongs to the Ericaceae family, and is a cousin of heathers and camellias with which it forms very beautiful masses. The cultivar 'Bonfire' has a compact and rounded habit. Its growth is rather slow; it ultimately forms a shrub measuring about 1 m (3.3 ft) in all directions. It has beautiful evergreen foliage in winter, composed of long shiny, lanceolate and pointed leaves, slightly dentate on the edges, measuring up to 10 cm (3.9 in) long. The young shoots are orange to coppery pink, then the leaves become light green, and finally dark green. The clusters of dark pink flower buds appear in winter, reinforcing the decorative effect of this Japanese Andromeda in the dull season. In April, it is covered with a multitude of upright clusters, 10 cm to 15 cm (3.9 in to 5.9 in) long, composed of small urn-shaped flowers, ranging from pale pink to creamy white, reminiscent of lily-of-the-valley flowers. The flowers exude a sweet honey fragrance.

Pieris japonica are shrubs with good hardiness, appreciating acidic and moist soils, as well as semi-shaded exposure. Due to its low development and extremely decorative aspect throughout the seasons, 'Bonfire' is perfectly suited for container gardening, on a semi-shaded terrace, patio or balcony. It will also find its place under the cover of large trees, with partially shaded shrubs, as a low hedge, in a shaded rock garden, and especially within an ericaceous bed, in the company of plants such as Camellias, Rhododendrons, heathers, Azalea mollis, or Azalea japonica. With its generous flowering, it will make an impression when combined with spring bulbs (daffodils, early tulips), hellebores, and primroses. It has its rightful place in a Japanese-style garden!