Pieris japonica Debutante - Japanese Andromeda

The Japanese Andromeda or Pieris japonica 'Debutante' is a charming small-sized bush, forming a true ball covered with particularly abundant white flowers in early spring. Easy to grow in any acid and moist soil, this variety produces a profusion of small white-cream bell-shaped flowers, in upright clusters above an elegant shiny dark green evergreen foliage. Superb in a large pot on the terrace,a rock garden, or a shrub border, always in partial shade.

Pieris belong to the ericaceous family, just like heathers and rhododendrons. They are bushy plants that prefer acid, or at least non-chalky soils. They have evergreen foliage and their new shoots take on pink or coppery tones, accompanying pretty clusters of small, often scented, bell-shaped flowers. Very easy to grow in the right conditions. They appreciate a light soil which remains moist and acidic, a partially shaded or sunny exposure with no scorching sun. The varieties derived from Pieris japonica are quite hardy once established.

The variety of Japanese Andromeda 'Debutante' is a very compact form with a slightly upright bushy habit, rarely exceeding 80cm (31.5in) in height by 50cm (19.7in) in spread at maturity. Its small lanceolate leaves follow tender green spring shoots and are quite dark green with bluish reflections and a glossy upper surface. From March to April the cream-white, slightly fragrant flowers are composed of rather upright clusters filled with a multitude of small bells and preceded by very decorative pale pink buds in winter.

 'Debutante' is slow-growing, requiring little to no pruning or maintenance, and will be perfect for small gardens, containers and pots, rock gardens, or bordering flower beds. Superb evergreen bush essential in acidic soil, relatively accommodating in ordinary soil if enriched with organic matter and compost. It possesses the same charm as shrubby heathers without their slightly austere aspect after flowering and will naturally and elegantly blend with Rhododendrons and deciduous Azaleas, surrounded by a bed of hellebores, ferns, and Pernettya. A dwarf strawberry tree, usually in bloom in winter, will complement Debutante Pieris well, while extending the flowering period of a display.