Give your landscape the perfect backdrop through the seasons with this shrub’s evergreen leaves.
This broadleaf, evergreen shrub is a plant with many names.
Commonly known aslily-of-the-valley shrub, it is also occasionally called andromeda or Japanese pieris.
Credit: Marilyn Ott
Its also an early bloomer, often producing big clusters of flowers in late winter or early spring.
The flowers, leaves, and sap of the lily-of-the-valley shrub are considered highly toxic to humansand pets.
So, use caution when planting this pretty shrub around children and pets.
Credit: Jerry Pavia
It makes an excellentfoundation plantand a welcome addition to anycountry garden, cottage garden, or Japanese-inspired landscape design.
Gently rake the roots apart with your fingers and place the plant in the center of the hole.
To prevent rot, keep the mulch several inches away from the trunk of your lily-of-the-valley shrub.
Credit: Marilyn Ott
If you have lousy soil but love lily-of-the-valley bush, consider a dwarf variety that performs well in containers.
These somewhat persnickety plants won’t tolerate getting too wet but don’t like consistently dry soil.
Container-grown lily-of-the-valley shrubs may require more watering than those grown in the groundparticularly in hot, dry weather.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Lily-of-the-valley shrubs dont mind high humidity, but they can develop fungal diseases if kept too moist.
Lily-of-the-valley shrubs need the dormancy of winter to produce spring blooms.
Fertilizer
Potted lily-of-the-valley shrubs may need more frequent fertilization.
Credit: Denny Schrock
If you want to prune, be sure to do it after the last blooms have faded.
Water your shrub thoroughly for a day or two before transplanting it.
Prepare a new container by filling it partially with fresh potting soil designed for acid-loving plants.
Credit:Better Homes and Gardens
Place the shrub in its new pot and fill it in with more fresh soil.
Be sure to keep your shrub at a depth similar to its previous planting.
If you bury the plant lower, its growth may be stunted or stopped.
Credit: Denny Schrock
If you notice stippling or speckles of dead spots, check the bottom of the leaves for lace bugs.
Lily-of-the-valley shrubs are also prone to fungal diseases like leaf spot and root rot.
The seeds that float to the top can be thrown out.
Credit: Mary Carolyn Pindar
Prepare several small seed pots with a moist mixture of one part compost and three parts perlite.
Sow one seed in each pot, by gently pressing it into the surface of the potting mix.
Do not completely bury your seed.
Credit: Sandra Gerdes
Place your pots in acold frameor an indoor spot with lots of indirect sunlight and mist them regularly.
Germination should begin in about 30 days.
you might also propagate lily-of-the-valley shrubs via softwood cuttings.
Tamp down the soil to keep the stem in place.
Place your cutting in a cold frame or an indoor spot with lots of indirect sunlight.
After the plant is well-established, it can be transplanted to the ground.
It grows 5 feet tall and wide.
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, growing only 3 feet tall and wide.
It produces clusters of white flowers in March and April and grows 12 feet tall and wide.
They are hardy in zones 4-10 and provide year-round interest with glossy, evergreen leaves.
Camellias
Camelliasare also fond of acidic, well-draining soil.
Hydrangeas
Hydrangeasare another shrub notorious for loving acidic, well-draining soil.
Hydrangeas are hardy in zones 3-9 and can flourish in the sun or shade.
Snowdrops
Snowdropsare early bloomers like the lily-of-the-valley shrub.
If well cared for, they have been known to live for 40 years or more.
Yellowing leaves are often a sign of soil that contains too much alkalinity.
