The pieris Mountain Fire plant, Pieris japonica 'Mountain Fire,' is a plant that isn't often seen in gardens, but it could add an explosive punch of color to yours. This unusual shrub features new growth that is a bright, vibrant red early each spring and contrasts beautifully with the plant's small, bell-like flowers and glossy dark green leaves, which are evergreen. The pieris Mountain Fire plant is easy to grow and thrives in partial shade, so it can be a great choice for planting under taller shrubs or trees. It's also excellent as a foundation planting and brings texture and interest to any landscape. Here are a few more reasons to try this plant in your garden today:
It can be pruned to form a loose hedge or privacy screen.
It is drought-tolerant; once mature it needs little supplemental watering.
The pieris Mountain Fire plant is resistant to both deer pressure and insect pests.
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The pieris Mountain Fire plant thrives in partial to full sun, with at least four hours of direct light a day.
Watering
Water newly-planted shrubs weekly; mature shrubs need water only in very dry or hot weather.
Fertilizing
Give your pieris a feeding with a balanced, slow-release product designed for landscape plants in spring.
Planting and Care
by Mary Van Keuren | Gardener (30+ Years Experience) – last update on August 9, 2022
Planting instructions
Site your Pieris Mountain Fire plant where it will receive at least four hours of direct light a day, in soil that is rich in organic matter and drains well. Unpot your plant, teasing out any encircling roots, which can girdle the tree and slowly kill it. Dig a hole that’s as deep as the root ball and two to three times as wide. Place the shrub in the hole, spreading out the roots carefully. Fill in around the roots with topsoil that’s been mixed with well-rotted compost or manure, tamping down as you go to eliminate air pockets. Water thoroughly. Apply a 2- to 3-inch layer of an organic mulch, such as bark chips, around the root zone to conserve moisture and hinder weed growth, but keep it from touching the trunk to avoid rot.
Watering and nutrients
During your shrub’s first year, water it regularly with about 1 inch of water a week. Cut back by the second year, when the roots are better established. A mature plant should only need watering in very hot or dry weather. Fertilize in spring with a balanced, slow-release product that is designed for landscape trees and shrubs.
Pollination
The pieris Mountain Fire Pplant produces small clusters of white flowers in spring that look like lilies of the valley. These flowers are pollinated by insects, such as honeybees, and, if not pruned out, result in small bright red berries that ripen to dark green. These contain the seeds. The shrub can also be propagated by taking softwood cuttings in early summer and placing them in a rooting medium.
Pruning
Prune out dead, diseased, or damaged limbs whenever you see them. After the shrub flowers, you may also prune to shape it. It can be shaped roughly to form a hedge, but left unpruned it will assume a pleasing vase-like shape.
Pests, diseases, and animals
Pests that may occasionally be seen in pieris shrubs include lace bugs, mites, and scale. A healthy tree should be able to fend off most infestations. Diseases that are possible include phytophthora root rot and canker disease, which is caused by a fungus and may lead to branch dieback. Prune out infected branches, and keep the area around your shrub free of leaf debris to help combat fungal diseases. Occasionally, deer may sample the leaves.
Achieving maximum results
Siting your pieris Mountain Fire plant properly is the best thing you can do to achieve maximum results. Although it is not a picky plant, it will offer better growth if planted in a spot that offers good morning sun and some afternoon shade, especially at the southern end of its range. It grows best in a spot that is protected from prevailing winds. It likes moist, but not wet, soil that is rich in humus and other organic matter. Prepare your site by digging well-rotted compost or manure into the soil a week or so before planting.
FAQs
How big does a pieris Mountain Fire plant Get?
This midsize bush achieves a maximum height of 4 to 8 feet, with a mature width of 3 to 6 feet. When fully grown, it has a dome-shaped canopy held on multiple arching stems. If planting more than one pieris, space them roughly 6 feet apart unless you are planning to use them as a hedge, in which case they can be somewhat closer.
How is this bush best used in my landscape?
One option is to plant your pieris in the back or middle of a foundation planting. Consider a setting with a dogwood tree in the background and several pieris shrubs grouped in front of it. It works well in small groupings in a front yard, since the bright red foliage would be visible from afar. It can also be used to form a boundary line hedge or privacy screen, planting the bushes roughly 3 to 6 feet apart from each other and pruning to shape after they have bloomed.
Is the pieris Mountain Fire plant toxic?
Yes. It is toxic to both animals and humans. For this reason, it's best to keep your companion animals away from these shrubs, and, if you have livestock, don't plant your pieris near their fenceline. It's also a good idea to wear gloves and long sleeves when pruning or working on your pieris.
Growing Zones: 5-8 i
Growing zones help determine if a particular plant is likely to grow well in a location. It identifies the average annual minimum winter temperatures across the U.S. provided as a map by the USDA.
(hardy down to -10°F)
Pieris Mountain Fire Plant
Pieris japonica 'Mountain Fire'
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