Legend has it that Cassiopeia , an ancient queen of Ethiopia , bragged to Poseidon , god of the sea , that her girl , Andromeda , was more beautiful than Poseidon ’s sea nymph . Poseidon was touchy about such things and penalize Cassiopeia by send a ocean monster to terrorize the Ethiopians . Eventually , the Ethiopian ruler confab oracles who told them that Andromeda had to be sacrifice to the monster in club to deliver the nation . luckily for Andromeda , the big hero Perseus fall out by and hear her chained to a rock awaiting her destiny . He rescue her , killed the ogre , and after a few more trials and tribulations , the couple married . They had several small fry and were eventually rewarded for their virtue by being placed in the Nox sky among the configuration .
Andromeda also end up as a bush , so to verbalise , and a good one at that . At this time of the yr , you see white - flowered Andromeda , also eff as Pieris , blooming in every other yard .
The most vulgar Pieris , Pieris japonica , are , as the name suggests , native of Japan . They are also love as lily - of - the - vale shrubs because of their small bell - like blossoms . Pieris flowers are borne in racemes or clustering at the ends of the branches . While not as spectacular as those of many azaleas , rhododendron or hydrangea , they are lovely in a pernicious way and smell just like dear .
Pieris are especially worthy because they are all evergreen plant and many of them provide visual interest in more than one season . The stretch oval leaves are drear green and glossy , and in some cultivar , the untested foliage emerges red or bronze , which is downright exciting in the natural spring . The shrubs prosper in the acid land that abounds in many area , and once they are set up are not fussy about care . If you are look for a shrub that is familiar but different , some of the hybrid Pieris fill the bill nicely .
Many of the Pieris on the marketplace are either aboriginal Asian mintage or their descendants . Because the shrubs are so useful , they have also been hybridized extensively . There are many good Dutch and Nipponese hybrids , as well as some excellent cultivar developed by an American , Dr. Robert Ticknor , at the North Willamette Research and Extension Center in Oregon .
Pieris ‘ Forest Flame’is a medium size ( maturing to five substructure ) variety that has bright red other growth . The color and pattern of the new leaves is such that from even a short distance the ruby leaves come out almost poinsettia - like . After a while , the foliage maturate to knock , then cream , then at last to fleeceable . It ’s uncommon to find a works that does all that without even bringing flowers into the picture . Pieris japonica ‘ Variegata ’ has the same bright young foliation , but when the leaf grow they are edge in cream .
There are those demanding gardeners , of form , who will conceive that fragrant white bloom , and brilliantleaves and even variegationjust does n’t do enough . For them , there are Pieris with red or pink or even bi - one-sided efflorescence . ‘ Dorothy Wycoff ’ have eye - catching disconsolate violet - red flower bud that open in the springiness to give away pink bell . This cultivar also issue wintertime interest because the leaf turn over bronze and remain so during the cold months . If pink is bete noire in your garden , but red is acceptable , assay Pieris japonica ‘ Shojo ’ , which has bass red bloom . Fans of bi - colour heyday should try Pieris ‘ Christmas Cheer . While it does n’t flower at Christmas , it definitely brings a gift to the garden . The flowers are white with rosy edge .
There are also Pieris for low - distance gardeners . The smaller cultivar can be grown in pots on a terrace or pack of cards , or used in cosmetic borders . One of the Camellia japonica , Pieris japonica yakusimana , uprise only 1 - 2 - foot tall but has the same large cluster of white flowers produced by much larger cultivars . For the centre of the edge or a orotund pot , Pieris japonica ‘ Pygmaea ’ grow to about 3 - feet tall , and has the same white flowers and brilliant red spring leaf as other miscellanea .
The ethnic requirements for Pieris are similar to those for rhododendron . In summation to acerb soil , the plants thrive well in light shade . For a sunnier placement , try a sun - tolerant crossbreed , Pieris ‘ Mountain Fire ’ . As the name suggest , the springiness growth is bright cherry . The flowers are white-hot .
The mythical Andromeda started out as an unlucky young womanhood — sacrificed because of her mother ’s vanity and the irregular wrath of the God . She ended up with a heroic husband , a kingdom , a configuration , and a namesake flora that is universally admired . It almost makes up for thesea monster .
Common Pieris varieties can be found in most nurseries andgarden inwardness .
Yellow RoseSWORD LILIESCHANGE IN THE GARDENUNFORGETTABLEFRESH VEGGIES
