Grow Japanese andromeda in part shade and acid, moist, well-drained soil. Japanese andromeda is Pieris japonica — also sold as Japanese pieris.
Give it part shade, acid soil, and even moisture
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Sun | Morning sun or light shade; afternoon shade where summers run hot | Do not bake new leaves on a west wall |
| Soil | Acid, humus-rich, well drained | Do not add lime, and do not plant in a soggy clay bowl |
| Moisture | Evenly moist the first year; then do not let the root zone bake dry | Do not leave standing water around the crown |
| Wind | A wall, fence, or other shrubs on the winter-wind side | Do not site it on an open ridge that dries evergreen leaves |
Japanese andromeda wants the same acid bed as a rhododendron: moist, drained, and not limed. [1] In heat, give afternoon shade so the new leaves do not scorch. [2] A red-flush kind such as Mountain Fire colors best with morning sun, not a west wall. Keep a new plant watered. One inch a week in a dry spell is the usual first-year soak. [3] Katsura wants that same moisture. Do not treat yellow leaves as a feed problem until you have checked pH — lime locks iron. [4]
Does Japanese andromeda need acid soil?
Yes. Acid, well-drained soil is the baseline. Do not add lime. Yellow leaves with green veins usually mean the pH is too high.
How often should I water Japanese andromeda?
Keep a new plant moist the first year — about an inch a week if rain fails. Then do not let the root zone bake dry. Do not leave standing water around the crown.
Shelter it from winter wind
Evergreen leaves dry out in a winter wind. Site the shrub where a building or other plants break the blast, and water until the ground freezes. Brown, crisp edges after a cold snap are winter burn, not a missing fertilizer.
- Pick a spot out of the prevailing winter wind.
- Mulch the root zone with pine needles or shredded bark, and keep the mulch off the stems.
- Water in a dry fall so the leaves go into winter hydrated.
Start a named plant from a cutting after bloom
Named kinds come true from cuttings, not from seed. Take a semi-ripe shoot after the flowers fade, when this year's wood has started to firm but the tip is still pliable. Mountain fetterbush is harder to root, so buy a plant if you want that native kind this season.
- Cut a healthy non-flowering tip about four to five inches long.
- Strip the lower leaves, and insert the stem in a gritty, acidic mix that drains.
- Keep the mix barely moist, out of harsh midday sun, until roots hold — often eight to ten weeks.
- Pot the rooted cutting, then plant it out the next spring or fall.
Can I start Japanese andromeda from a cutting?
Yes. Take a semi-ripe cutting after bloom. Buy a plant if you want a named shrub this season. Mountain fetterbush is harder to root.
Not bog rosemary, and not lily-of-the-valley
Bog rosemary is Andromeda polifolia — a low wet-ground evergreen, not this woodland shrub. Lily-of-the-valley is a spreading groundcover. That job is on How to Grow Lily of the Valley. Japanese andromeda is an evergreen shrub with hanging urns. Enkianthus is a deciduous cousin in the same family; that job is on How to Grow Enkianthus.
Is Japanese andromeda the same as lily-of-the-valley?
No. Lily-of-the-valley is Convallaria, a groundcover. Japanese andromeda is an evergreen shrub. Shops also say lily-of-the-valley shrub.
If the leaves yellow between the veins, stop liming and keep the soil acid — do not add more water to a soggy bed.
FAQ
Can I grow Japanese andromeda in a pot?
A compact kind can live in a draining pot of acidic mix. Water when the top inch is dry. Do not leave the pot standing in a saucer of water. Open ground is the usual home.
Why are the leaves stippled pale?
Pale stipple with dark specks on the leaf underside is often lace bug. More shade and even moisture reduce it. Do not start with a spray.
Is Pieris a cabbage worm?
The Latin name Pieris is also a cabbage butterfly. Cabbage worms are on How to Get Rid of Cabbage Worms. Japanese andromeda is the evergreen shrub.
Is Japanese andromeda toxic?
Leaves and nectar are poisonous if eaten. Keep pets and children from chewing them.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] NC State Extension Gardener -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/pieris-japonica/ - [2] New York Botanical Garden -
https://libguides.nybg.org/andromeda - [3] Gardeners Path -
https://gardenerspath.com/plants/ornamentals/grow-japanese-andromeda/ - [4] Oregon State University Landscape Plants -
https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/pieris-japonica
This note is part of Pieris Guides.
More first-season notes by plant are gathered in How to Grow Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors