Pieris japonica 'MOUNTAIN FIRE' lily-of-the-valley shrub

Lily-of-the-valley shrubs are very popular ericaceous plants with attractive foliage and abundant flowering. Mountain Fire is one the best old varieties. It produces abundance of vase-shaped, creamy white flowers hanging on pink stamens in slightly pendent, long racemes. After 3-4 weeks of flowering new leaves emerge. They are vivid red in spring, maturing to rich green in summer. Pieris’ leaves are evergreen and produced 2 or three times in a season which always brings you an extra colour in mid-summer and early autumn if the weather is good. Its ultimate size is almost 4m in its native habitat, we can expect a little over 1.5m.

Pieris does not require much maintenance. But if you wish to have a perfect plant here are a few suggestions: cut off spent flower racemes to prevent them from making seeds. During late spring and summer check the leaves 2 or 3 times for tiny spots on the upper sides – they manifest insect attack whose miniature worms are living inside the leaves and produce sticky sap on the underneath of the leaves. In such case spray it with a suitable insecticide – one dose is usually enough. In winter remove heavy and wet snow from the top of the plant to prevent its fragile branches from bending or breaking.

Last update 09-01-2012