Give your landscape the perfect backdrop through the seasons with this shrub ’s evergreen plant leaves .
This broadleaf , evergreen shrub is a plant with many names . Commonly known aslily - of - the - valley shrub , it is also once in a while called andromeda or Japanese pieris . Its common name comes from the pendulous chain of pucker flower it produce , which closely resemble the perenniallily of the vale . Though it may not be as fragrant as its groundcover lookalike , the lily - of - the - vale bush has a sweet , light scent . It ’s also an other bloomer , often producing prominent cluster of flowers in later winter or early spring .
Although mainly grow for showy cluster of spring flowers , the lily - of - the - vale shrub ’s glossy foliage is evergreen , which pee-pee it a safe backcloth for downfall and winter plants . Some cultivars of this multi - season peach green goods coppery - red leaves in the give which will mature over the summertime to bright green .
Credit: Marilyn Ott
The flower , leaves , and sap of the lily - of - the - vale shrub are deliberate highly toxic to humansand pets . So , use care when implant this pretty bush around children and pet .
Where to Plant Lily-of-the-Valley Shrub
aboriginal to China , Taiwan , and Japan , the lily - of - the - vale shrub likes full sunlight to fond shade . It makes an excellentfoundation plantand a welcome addition to anycountry garden , cottage garden , or Japanese - breathe in landscape invention . It typically grow marvellous than it does astray , so it work especially well for tight spaces , borders , and landscape painting groupings where it can attend to as a flashy backcloth .
If you are plant your lily - of - the - valley bush in a container , choose a large ( 5 - Imperial gallon at least ) can with excellent drainage and plan to place it in an arena that receives full to fond sun . In warmer climates especially , lily - of - the - vale bush may want the shade of a patio or large Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree to protect them from the harsh sun of western or southern exposure .
How and When to Plant Lily-of-the-Valley Shrub
Plant your lily - of - the - valley shrub in other spring to earmark your bush to get well established during the spring up season . you’re able to also plant in the fall to encourage your shrub to develop warm roots before the next growing season . former fall planting may be especially good if your realm is prone to irregular spring weather with late snow or spare rain .
To implant a nursery - grow bush ( your best wager ) , dig a fix as deep as your flora ’s root globe and at least double as wide of the mark . Mix in filth amendments or some acidulent compost before planting if you take to rear the acidity of the grunge . Gently glance over the roots apart with your fingers and place the flora in the sum of the hole . Fill in the soil around the ascendent , firmly tamping the soil down as you knead to take away any atmosphere pockets . piddle soundly and add a tenuous level of mulch ( about 1 to 2 inches ) over the planting area . To prevent decomposition , keep the mulch several inches by from the trunk of your lily - of - the - vale bush .
If you would like to grow your lily - of - the - vale bush in a container , check that to choose a pot big enough to lodge its growth . When grown alone , a 12 to 15 - inch diam bay window may be tolerable for a single shrub , but if you will be acquire other plants around the nucleotide , prefer a container that is at least 18 to 20 column inch in diameter or larger . replete your container partly with pot soil designed for acid - screw works ( like camellia , azalea , or rhododendron ) then pose the shrub in the center and tamp down down the soil to batten down it . weewee thoroughly until the redundant wet drains from the container , allow it to pillow for a few second , and then water again .
Credit: Jerry Pavia
Lily-of-the-Valley Shrub Care Tips
The lily - of - the - vale shrub is moderately grim - sustainment when plant in acidic , fat , well - drained soil , but it want fairly consistent moisture and will not tolerate soggy root . It requires little pruning except to cut back all in leg in mid springiness or to change the growth substance abuse or shape of the shrub .
Light
Full Lord’s Day provides the best come forth foliage vividness and best blooms , but it can be too stressful in warmer climates . In areas where the summer sun is relentless , give the plant life afternoon tad to relieve stress and encourage a healthier plant .
Soil and Water
Lily - of - the - valley bush requires well - drain , acidic soil ( 5.0 to 6.0 pH ) to thrive . In area with alkaline soil , this bush is in for a problematic time and , in many cases , may decline each year . If you have rotten soil but love lily - of - the - vale bush , regard a dwarf variety that performs well in container .
These slightly snot-nosed plants wo n’t tolerate getting too sozzled but do n’t like consistently dry soil . freshly plant and young shrubs may involve weekly ( or more ) watering during the initial growing time of year , peculiarly during very blistering weather . Deep , dense watering ( at a drip for an hr or so ) will encourage stronger roots and serve the bush construct drought permissiveness — peculiarly when done ahead of time in the plant ’s life .
Container - grown lily - of - the - vale shrubs may require more lacrimation than those produce in the ground — particularly in hot , dry atmospheric condition .
Credit: Marilyn Ott
Temperature and Humidity
Lily - of - the - vale shrubs are audacious in zones 4 - 8 and should be liberal of all seasons , but they thrive well when protected from harsh winds and the high good afternoon sunshine .
Lily - of - the - vale shrubs do n’t mind in high spirits humidness , but they can develop fungal diseases if go on too moist . If you live in a area prone to such mood , be sure to imbed your shrub with mess of space for air circulation .
If your garden amaze a quite a little of wintertime rainwater , monitor your container - grown bush to ensure it is draining by rights . Your potted lily - of - the - valley bush will thank you if you shelter them from coarse winter sun and wind , but do n’t bring them inside . Lily - of - the - vale bush call for the dormancy of wintertime to grow spring efflorescence .
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Fertilizer
Potted lily - of - the - valley shrubs may need more frequent fecundation . prey yours with a diluted liquid fertilizer design for acid - love plants by adding it to a lachrymation can once a month during the growing season ( and employ care not to talk the mix on the foliage ) .
Pruning
Lily - of - the - valley shrubs need little ( if any ) pruning except to remove beat leg or to defend a specific size or soma . In fact , many gardener pick out not to prune at all and or else let their lily - of - the - valley shrubs educate a natural shape . If you need to prune , be sure to do it after the last bloom have faded . you could also deadhead spent blooms throughout the growing season to promote more flowers and encourage continued bloom .
To encourage bushier growth ( or to restore an older lily - of - the - valley shrub that has grown woody and leggy ) , cut back the bush to about one - third of its size to get new development . If you cut the shrub back this heavily , it may take more than one growing time of year to set out blooming again .
Potting and Repotting
If you need to repot your potted lily - of - the - valley shrub , the best prison term to do so is in the spring or after it has finished blossom . Water your bush thoroughly for a Clarence Day or two before transplanting it . Prepare a raw container by filling it partially with fresh potting soil design for pane - loving plants . When you are ready , dig cautiously around the radical ball and raise the shrub cautiously from its old weed . Place the bush in its unexampled wad and make full it in with more brisk territory . Be sure to keep your shrub at a astuteness like to its late planting . If you forget the flora lower , its ontogenesis may be stunted or bar . Water deep and continue to provide about an inch of water per week throughout the grow time of year or until it seems like it has established itself in its new pot .
Pests and Problems
Lily - of - the - valley bush resists most pests , but you might find irritating lace bugs , which pierce the leaf electric cell and drink the subject matter . If you remark stippling or dapple of dead spots , check the bottom of the farewell for lace bugs . The damage they induce is n’t normally substantial , so if you may bear it , just leave behind the pests be .
Lily - of - the - valley shrubs are also prostrate to fungous diseases like folio spot and tooth root rot . To forbid it , make certain your shrub has ample space between it and other plants for air travel circulation and water with a trickle system from the al-Qaeda of the plant instead of watering from above .
How to Propagate Lily-of-the-Valley Shrub
The easy agency to disperse lily - of - the - valley shrubs is in the spring with seeds from the previous summertime or in the fall with seeds from the most late blooming . Before you begin , test the viability of your seeds by soak them in water for 12 to 24 hours . The ejaculate that float to the top can be thrown out . Prepare several little seeded player pots with a moist assortment of one part compost and three region perlite . Sow one seeded player in each commode , by mildly pressing it into the surface of the potting mix . Do not wholly bury your seed . Mist each pot and grade the pots in a moldable bagful or under plastic wrapping to forestall them from dry out out . Place your pot in acold frameor an indoor spot with lots of collateral sunshine and mist them on a regular basis . Germination should begin in about 30 day . Once your seedling have grow to about 3 to 4 column inch in height , they can be graft into the garden or amore lasting pot .
you may also pass around lily - of - the - vale shrubs via deal press cutting . To do so , prepare a small container with moist potting soil that is one part compost and three parts perlite . After the shrub has finished blooming , write out a 4 to 5 - column inch - long piece from a sizable root that has young folio but no flowers . withdraw all but the topmost leaves , douse the slashed tip of the stem in rooting internal secretion , and stick it into the prepared pot . You ’ll want most of the stem to be in the flowerpot , but none of the leave-taking under the soil . Tamp down the soil to keep the base in spot . Place your cut in a moth-eaten chassis or an indoor office with lots of collateral sunlight . Keep the soil tender ( 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit ) and moist for about 8 to 10 week and the press clipping should start to take ascendant . After the works is well - established , it can be transplanted to the ground .
Types of Lily-of-the Valley Shrub
‘Bert Chandler’ Lily-of-the-valley shrub
This variety ofPieris japonicais a somewhat hardier selection that offers white blossom in other spring and pinkish young growth . It raise 5 feet tall and wide . geographical zone 4 - 9
‘Christmas Cheer’ Lily-of-the-valley shrub
Pieris japonica’Christmas Cheer ' bears pink peak that fade to white in other give . It grows 10 feet tall and wide . Zones 6 - 9
‘Debutante’ Lily-of-the-valley shrub
ThisPieris japonicaselection shows off white flowers in early spring . It ’s very compact , spring up only 3 infantry tall and wide . Zones 6 - 9
‘Forest Flame’ Lily-of-the-valley shrub
Pieris japonica’Forest Flame ' feature new growth that emerges a bluff red in early spring . It produce clump of white flowers in March and April and raise 12 feet marvellous and wide . Zones 6 - 9
Companion Plants for Lily-of-the-Valley Shrub
Rhododendrons and Azaleas
Better Homes and Gardens
Rhododendronsand their closely related azaleas make corking companion plant for the lily - of - the - valley bush because they also thrive in acidic filth . They are hardy in zones 4 - 10 and provide yr - round stake with glossy , evergreen plant leave .
Camellias
Camelliasare also doting of acidulous , well - debilitate land . They are particularly hardy in affectionate mood ( zones 6 - 10 ) and can be keel with other cultivars to providenearly class - round blooms .
Hydrangeas
Hydrangeasare another bush ill-famed for loving acidulous , well - drain dirt . In fact , if you plant some types of blue hydrangea in alkaline soil , the shrub will easy change new blooms from blue topurple or pink . Hydrangeas are sturdy in zona 3 - 9 and can flourish in the Lord’s Day or ghost .
Snowdrops
Snowdropsare other bloomers like the lily - of - the - valley shrub . They are often among the first spring flowers to bloom , bolt down up in February or March in some regions while coke is still on the dry land . They also savor passably acidulous soil ( with a pH of 5.5 to 7.0 ) and full sunshine to partial shade .
Frequently Asked Questions
Lily - of - the - valley shrub are tardily - growing and may take as retentive as 10 years to grow 5 feet tall . If well cared for , they have been hump to live on for 40 years or more .
Yes . Deer debar crunch on lily - of - the - vale shrub because of the toxic compound contain in the leaves and blooms . They also tend to be repelled by the sweet fragrance of the blooms .
yellow leaves are often a sign of soil that contains too much alkalinity . judge course your bush with a fertilizer designed for battery-acid - lovingplants like azaleas , rhododendrons , and camellias or addingsoil amendments(like bog moss peat ) that will increase the acidity of the dirt .
Credit: Denny Schrock
Pieris japonica . Pieris japonica ( Andromeda Japonica , Fetterbush , Japanese Andromeda , Japanese Pieris , Lily - of - the - Valley Shrub , Pieris)| North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox .
Andromeda Japonica . ASPCA .
Pieris . ASPCA .
Credit:Better Homes and Gardens
Credit: Denny Schrock
Credit: Mary Carolyn Pindar
Credit: Sandra Gerdes
