Pieris japonica Polar passion® - Japanese Andromeda

The Pieris japonica 'Polar Passion' is a variety of Japanese Andromeda, noteworthy for its dark pink almost red flowering. It blooms in March-April in the form of numerous clusters of small bell-shaped flowers that develop at the ends of each shoot. The foliage is equally decorative with its creamy white variegation enhancing the green of the slender leaves, while the young shoots take on pink and red hues before turning to green and white. Ornamental all year round, this compact and evergreen shrub is perfectly suited for container cultivation, in areas where the soil conditions are not ideal. It thrives in rather acidic and moist soils, in a sheltered position away from strong sunlight.

Pieris belongs to the Ericaceae family, rich in about a hundred genera, many of which are ornamental (Rhododendron, Kalmia, Enkianthus...) and some fruit-bearing, like the Blueberry Bush (Vaccinium). There are eight species of Pieris, a genus established by the English botanist David Don from the Andromeda genus, which still exists as such (Andromeda polifolia is one species). Pieris species are native to North America, the Himalayas, and East Asia. This is the case for Pieris japonica, which as its species name suggests, grows naturally in Japan, commonly known as Japanese Andromeda. Adding to the confusion, other Ericaceae genera are also referred to as Andromedas, such as Enkianthus campanulatus (Campanulate Andromeda) or Oxydendron arboreum (Tree Andromeda). This is due to the resemblance of their bell-shaped flowers in small clusters hanging down.
Pieris japonica is found in the wild on the hills of the Japanese islands of Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu where summers are warm. It forms a small shrub 2 to 3 m in height, with spreading, brownish branches. It produces copper-colored shoots, which then turn green and bear lanceolate leaves 3 to 9 cm long, 1 to 2 cm wide. The flowers appear in clusters 7 to 15 cm long, bell-shaped due to the petals being fused almost along their entire length (hence termed gamopetalous).
'Polar Passion' is a recent horticultural variety that combines all the qualities of Pieris. Compact in size, this shrub reaches approximately 1 m in height and 80 cm in width after ten years of cultivation in soil. Slow-growing, it adapts well to pot cultivation, allowing enjoyment even if the garden soil is limestone, as this plant requires slightly acidic soil. The numerous flexible branches with a relatively upright habit bear very elongated and narrow lanceolate leaves. With a medium to dark green colour, the leaf blade is adorned with a creamy white margin, giving the evergreen shrub great ornamental value all year round. The young shoots turn pink-red before changing to green and white, an additional attraction of the plant. In spring, from March onwards, the raspberry pink flowering appears, almost red, very unique among Pieris. The numerous small bell-shaped flowers under 1 cm long are clustered generously over the vegetation, blooming until April, thus celebrating the arrival of spring in a beautiful way.

When grown in a container, Pieris japonica 'Polar Passion' forms a superb flowering pot that will nicely embellish your terrace, when placed away from direct sunlight. If your soil allows it, it will be perfect alongside heather soil plants, in the foreground of a dedicated bed. Plant together with Autumn Camellias (Camellia sasanqua) that will delight you with their flowering from October, lasting through the winter. Blooming at the same time, Magnolia stellata 'Rosea' will provide a lovely contrast in shape and size with its large star-shaped flowers, in a charming light pink. To create a beautiful colour combination, opt for the changing foliage of Acer palmatum 'Shaina', a small Japanese Maple ranging from orange-red to crimson and violet-brown. And to liven up the summer, nothing beats one or two Hydrangeas with their variety of flower shapes and colours that leave no one indifferent.