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Pieris

WoostieWoostie Posts: 53
in Plants
I'm looking for some advice about Pieris shrubs please. I have acid soil and lots of local gardens have them growing so I think they'll grow okay but RHS website says they take 10-20 years to grow to full height. Are they really that slow growing? I don't expect instant results on anything but not sure I'd want to wait so long.

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 54,353
    Even with optimum conditions, an average sized plant [2 littre pot] will take about 6 or more years to reach roughly full size, from planting. Some varieties will take longer. They will keep on growing too, so the eventual size can be much bigger and can therefore take longer than ten years. 
    All sizes are an approximation though - for any plant - because climate, growing conditions and aftercare are all relevant. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ErgatesErgates Posts: 2,625
    How big do you want them to grow? The main virtue of Pieris is the wonderful colour of the new growth, so you’ll want to prune a bit to encourage new leaves. We have lots of Forest Flame, the new foliage of which is a wonderful bright red. We have some other varieties with pale green new leaves, not so spectacular and seem a lot slower in growth.
  • WoostieWoostie Posts: 53
    Thank you both. I'm looking for one that grows approx. 1m-1.5m and toying with Valley Rose and Pink Delight at the moment.
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,501
    The ones we saw at Arley Hall last week were the size of a small house!
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 54,353
    You can prune them anyway - just take out a few stems to keep the natural shape.   :)
    Some, newer varieties are a bit smaller, but the good old standards of Forest Flame and Mountain Fire are very easy.
    There's one along the road from me which is at least twelve feet - lovely when the new growth is doing it's thing. They grow readily here as we have the right climate for them. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ErgatesErgates Posts: 2,625
    We put this row of Forest Flame in some years ago. I prune any leggy bits out each year to keep them tidy. Earlier in the year, they were all bright red, very pretty. Beyond the row, by the fence, you can see a much older specimen. I’ve reduced that by half in the past, and it shoots up again. We have acid soil, and they love it here.

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