Pieris, Japanese Impish Elf Pieris japonica 'Shy' Height: 5 feet Spread: 5 feet
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Hardiness Zone: 6a Other Names: Lily of the Valley Shrub, Japanese Andromeda Group/Class: Enchanted Forest Series Brand: Monrovia Description: A highly ornamental broadleaf evergreen shrub, prized for its delicate and showy chains of bright pink bell-shaped flowers, and brick red emerging foliage on dark red stems; a dense and compact variety; performs best in moist, organic and acidic soils Ornamental Features Pieris, Japanese Impish Elf features dainty chains of pink bell-shaped flowers hanging below the branches from late winter to early spring, which emerge from distinctive hot pink flower buds. It has attractive dark green foliage with pointy light green spines which emerges brick red in spring. The glossy narrow leaves are highly ornamental and remain dark green throughout the winter. Landscape Attributes Pieris, Japanese Impish Elf is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition. This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics. Pieris, Japanese Impish Elf is recommended for the following landscape applications; Planting & Growing Pieris, Japanese Impish Elf will grow to be about 5 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 5 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more. This shrub does best in partial shade to shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. This plant should be periodically fertilized throughout the active growing season with a specially-formulated acidic fertilizer. It is very fussy about its soil conditions and must have rich, acidic soils to ensure success, and is subject to chlorosis (yellowing) of the foliage in alkaline soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America, and parts of it are known to be toxic to humans and animals, so care should be exercised in planting it around children and pets.
