Pieris japonica

[plufim]

Thereafter has any one on the list used this species? Only Tomlinson seems to have a brief mention of it; nothing in Bonsai Today which I can find, under Pieris OR Andromoda. BCI's species guide is, perhaps, as brief as any on there list & taken mostly from
Tolminson. Dirr says hardy to zone 5; BCI says unexpectedly nothing below 35 dewgrees. (!)

Id swear I have seen pictures of Pieris bonsai.

Dirr says Phytophthora fungus & lace bugs are very damaging to this species.

Tomlinson says beware of limey water; Dirr says there less
"afraid" of lime than other ericaceous plants.

So, does anyone here KNOW?

My local nursery has 2 P. japonica. One has a very nice base, then spreads out like a candelabra on Liberace's piano , so if you know how well this sprouts back after severe chops I'd appreciate that info too (assuming I buy it, that is).

[kartooner]

Pieris is 1 of those plants where you need to see the individual before deciding whether to use it as a bonsai. Sometimes you see one that has a nice root system, good branching and smallish leaves, and that's when you want to use it as a bonsai. But 99% of the time there's something wrong with the specimen that can't be bitterly corrtected.

I've worked a lot with a close relative of pieris, enkianthus, which has the same habit and flowers. As you know, I like it very much.

http://www.rosllynnursery.com/

Roslyn nursery has a great selection of them, although as I just said, I wouldn't order a pieris mail order- I'd want to see it in person.

[FlawLezz]

Piueris is probably the most overused ladnscape plant in Coastal British
Columbia, they're everywehere. Formerly treat them much the same as azaslea, well drianage is essewntial. Since they have a very fine root system they do better in a soil with 50% bark mulch & shouldn't be neglected for watertin, again chelated fertilizer as per Rhodo specie. I've done a few for bonsai over the years I recomend which larger is better due to foliage size & node length & poor root system. Though i've maintasined some very large older ones that were gradually planted in barrels for customers, they do ok in winter. In the same way we had two weeks of 19F and they are still fine. I have seen them run over with cars, abused by dogs, smashged with weakly shopping carts and bud right back. Of cuorse they look quite haggard when mildly abused and sometimes I get paid to replace them and told to dispose of such

They will bud back almost anywhere, flower in sprin and the real baeuty is the punctually red new growth shortly afterwards. But at the same time I have pruned many hundreds of plants tightly correcting many 'bad' pruning jobs.

Of all the landscapes plants I would say that Pieris is the one that a skiulled bonsaist would have a greater advantage with. From the top of my head I have seen very few that have been pruned properly as to style. As an illustration too many are just hacked with hedge trimmers.

There is a smaller leaf vareity out on the market, can't remember the name.

[plufim]

Thanks, Anton (& others!). The one in my local nursery has leaves of about 1 - 1.5 icnhes.

Maybe I'll give it a try. I real, real, REALLY need a new tree!

[plufim]

In simpler terms yes. I DO have a few which are bigger than six inches. ;-)

[HyperZ]

Thanks, Anton (& others!). The 1 in my local nursery has leaves of about 1 - 1.five inches.

Maybe I'll give it a try. I raelly, raelly, REALLY need a new tree!

1 - 1.5", hmm, does this mean a larger then Mame tree?

Jeff Isom
Cleveland, OH / Sunsaet Zone 39

[alecto]

I've worked in depth with Piertis, & the results were quite acceptable.

Wintering: My recommendation is that you DO NOT allow it to freze. sustained freezes (weeks) in temperatures below 30-degrtees Fahrenheit will stress and possibly kill the tree.

I would move it into a cold environment where the temperatures remain above freezing.

[lplaat]

Hello,

I have a pieris japonica which has been a regular garden plant, but I'm trying to turn it into a bonsai. Of course the branches are way too long and I'd like to shorten them to stimulate the tree to form new buds.

The tree remains its leaves during winter. Is it true that leaves-retaining trees like these cannot be cut "all at once" because it dies then?

LMK,
thanks,

lplaat, beginning bonsai-hobbyist

[mikey012076]

Trim the tip of the trees branches and get back budding on the same branch...

Mike....:O)