Pieris japonica Prelude

The Japanese Andromeda or Pieris japonica 'Prelude' is a dwarf variety with a rounded and bushy habit. It is covered in spring with a beautiful white-cream flowering in clusters of tiny bells, very abundant. It has a dark green, shiny evergreen foliage, for a contrasting and elegant overall appearance. Easy to grow in any acidic and moist soil, this variety looks stunning in a large pot on the terrace, in a fresh rockery, or in a shrub bed, always in partial shade. It has been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

Pieris belong to the ericaceae family, just like heathers and rhododendrons. They are shrubs that prefer acidic soil, or at least non-chalky soil, with evergreen foliage whose new shoots take on pink or coppery hues, accompanying a pretty flowering in clusters of small often fragrant bells. It is very convenient when the conditions are met; they appreciate light soil that remains moist and acidic. It is a partially shaded or sunny exposure as long as it is not scorching sun. Varieties derived from Pieris japonica are quite hardy once established.

The 'Prelude' variety of Japanese Andromeda is a particularly low form, with a bushy, flattened dome habit, reaching a height of 45 to 60 cm and a width of 60 to 90 cm at maturity. Its small lanceolate leaves, fairly dark green with bluish reflections, are glossy on their upper surface. They are succeeded by tender green spring shoots. The white-cream flowering, slightly fragrant, composed of relatively upright clusters filled with many small urns, is preceded by very decorative pale pink buds in winter. It takes place from March to April.

'Prelude' is slow-growing, requires little to no pruning or maintenance, and is perfect for small gardens, containers and planters, rockeries, or bordering flower beds. A superb evergreen shrub, essential in acidic soil, relatively accommodating in ordinary soil enriched with peat and compost, it is planted at the forefront of Rhododendrons and Camellias, surrounded by hellebores, ferns, and Bergenias.