Pieris Japonica Mountain Fire

Pieris Japonica Mountain Fire is an evergreen RHS winning acid-soil loving shrub with pink new foliage and white flowers in spring. It’s perfect for a plant container or a spot in a dappled mixed border.

As the name suggests Pieris Japonica is native to eastern China, Taiwan, and Japan. It grows natively in mountain thickets, jostling for space with other evergreen shrubs.

Pieris Mountain Fire is a long-established, larger cultivar of Pieris, an acid-loving shrub species known for its white flowers and new red pink foliage. Mountain Fire has ornamental foliage that emerges bronze-red in early spring before maturing to copper and finally deep glossy green. The foliage is heavily divided and leathery to touch growing around the shrub in an upright, rounded habit. In spring its lightly scented panicles of white flowers that resemble lily-of-the-valley cover the plant and attract so many early waking bees that the RHS has also awarded it the prestigious Perfect for Pollinators badge.

Pieris Mountain Fire is a great shrub for all-season interest with its glossy green winter leaves and colourful new foliage and flowers.

Height And Spread of Pieris Japonica Mountain Fire
Pieris Mountain Fire reaches a maximum height and spread of around 4 metres over 10-20 years.

How Hardy is Pieris Japonica Mountain Fire
Very hardy if its roots are well-drained and it’s grown in acidic soils. Pests are rarely a problem and it can tolerate some dryness once established.

How To Use Pieris Japonica Mountain Fire
If you have acidic soil and you’re not sure what to plant, then Pieris is a beautiful low maintenance choice. Pieris Mountain Fire suits a woodland border or a mixed border that has both shade and sun.  Its multi-coloured multi-season foliage is a joy in both urban and country-style gardens because it’s never overbearing but always interesting. It particularly suits pollinator-friendly gardens and grows happily in a well-watered and fed container of ericaceous compost.

How To Care For Pieris Japonica Mountain Fire
This is an easy-care shrub that can be left to grow without fuss once it’s established. It prefers acidic soil, so grow it in a container of ericaceous compost or fill the planting hole with ericaceous compost and top up the roots with a yearly application of bracken or pine-based mulch.

A sunny to partially sunny spot suits this woodland shrub best with some shelter from cold prevailing winds that can damage its evergreen foliage.

Water well until established and prune away any broken or damaged branches after the flowers are spent. Regular pruning isn’t required as it naturally grows in a round but upright form.