Japanese Andromeda

[Sharon Marie]

Does anyone here know about this plant? We bought two of these around August last summer. We planted them, and all seemed well. As the winter came, it seemed as if one of them has died. The plant has no color and looks brown. I loved how they looked and I'm wondering if they do this every winter? Thanks in advance. I've not been able to find much on this on the internet so I am new here and thought this would be a good question.

[Piet Patings]

Hello Sharon Marie,
Japanese Andromeda, or Pieris Japonica should stay green(ish).
As the name suggests, it is native to Japan and has many cultivars but can stand low temperatures (hardy to zone 6).

Some cultivars have bright red, pink, or silvery-yellow spring foliage that contrasts so strongly with the previous year's evergreen leaves that new terminal leaves can look like late-winter flowering. The species is more subdued in its new foliage.
Nontheless, if you have two of the same there may indeed be a problem.

I would still give it a chance as it may well "come back" (if the wood is still alive).
Good luck !

[Piet Patings]

Further,
I found this specialist site:
http://www.pieris.eu/pieris-japonica

If you know your cultivar then you may be able to get more specific information.
Enjoy,

[Sharon Marie]

Wow, that link was very helpful. I think that the bushes are "gone" I am going to find two more and fertilize the soil and try again

[The Helpful Gardener]

Sharon, can I ask about your fertilizer?

HG

[yama]

Hi all
Pieris japanica Japanese name asebi or asebo. when write in Kanji/chinese charactor write as Horse, drunk, tree,
leave of pieris japanica is highly toxic if ingested. touchin the tree of any part is not toxic.
Before mordan pesticide depelop, asebi was use as pesticide. collecting leave and cook it in hot water or soak in water. it works to controle sucking insect .
reason why named"horse drunk tree" is that horse cattle get sick, look like drunk. some time kill large animal. I saw in Hakone,Japan where cold in winer zone 6 or so tall as 15 to 18 feet , trunk diamert at ground 6 to 8 inch.it is handsam small to midiam size shurb, easy to take care , relatively pest free shurb.
yama

[applestar]

OH! I have one of these. I didn't know about being able to use the leaves as pesticide. That's really interesting! Now I HAVE to get it into better shape so I could harvest some of the leaves. It's been badly neglected. Too many weeds around it, including Ostrich Fern that's taking over that area. It's unfortunate that Azalea Lace Bug doesn't seem to be affected by its toxicity

This year, I've turned my attention to this area and am working on creating a mixed shrub border (Rhododendron, Astilbe, Japanese Andromeda, Arunculus, Arrowwood Viburnum, Carolina Allspice, Ostrich Fern, more Astilbe, and Black Cohosh), with a "weeping?" Blue Spruce on one end.

Oops, just realized this is the Japanese Gardening Forum. I'm afraid my shrub bed is going to be much less orderly or refined....

[The Helpful Gardener]

Doesn't have to be, AS... And right on about the lace bug; they tore mine up last year. Not so bad this year...

Yama, as always thanks for the lessons. Your English remains far better than my (non-existant) Japanese and I always appreciate your linguistic insight...

HG

[applestar]

Oh, speaking of Horse Drunk Tree -- My mom subscribes and contributes to a Haiku club magazine by the same name -- Asebi (except she pronounces it "Ashibi"... I wonder why?). ONLY reason I recognized Yama-san's Kanji character description I'm afraid. (I also didn't know that Asebi was the Japanese name for Pieris japonica -- thank you )

[yama]

Hi
I remember that we visit to Hakone for hot sping vacation, I saw some home or businee had 12 to15 feet tall Asebi, base of trunk diameter was 8 to 10 inch.
Some people call "Asebo" Please don't waste leave.twigs. You can make pesticide to controle sucking insect like tabaco.
It take some knowlge and skil to prune asebi properry propery

Appelstar
I am going home in Japan soon If I have chance to take photos Japanese garden, intresting shape/form of tree,shurbs I will psot if you teach me how to post it.
yama

[applestar]

Oooh! We'll be looking forward to your photos. I can review how to post photos with you when you're ready.

[yama]

^^ thanks.
yama

[The Helpful Gardener]

Yama is right about pruning; too easy to prune off next years flowers...

The good thing is that this one WILL come back from old wood pretty easily; I had been after my mother to prune hers for years, back in her " cutting hurts me so it must hurts plants too" phase. Finally the day came when she left to do something while I was over gardening, and I turned around to find my stepfather standing behind me, hand pruners and loppers in hand.

"I'll take the blame" he said as he gave the Pieris a meaningful glance and handed me the tools.

When she finally forgave us (the following year), Mom had to agree that even the brutal pruning that I had given her shrub had increased flowering, made the shrub more dense, and in general increased the aesthetic overall. Last year she even pruned the ones by the front door her own self, and seems quite proud of the results (which are indeed a big improvement).

Remember to prune right after flowering to preserve next years flowers, and to not be too shy about taking older bigger branches to get the shape you want. Think about some of the dwarfer varieties as compliments as well, everything from midsizes to real dwarves exist