Better Bush than Fetterbush

by Ruby Weinberg

The linchpin of almost every garden is the ornamental shrub. One of them, “fetterbush," or mountain andromeda, Pieris floribunda, is hardy to the south, but far more attractive in bloom and variable in size and appearance are the many crosses, hybrids, and selections of the Japanese andromeda, Pieris japonica.

On a winter's day, their broadleaf foliage and little sprigs of flower buds await the opening of early spring's cascading blossoms. Meanwhile, these pretty buds give the gardener a feeling of pleasant expectation.

When I planted the greater part of my garden 35 years ago, only the species Pieris japonica was available in the marketplace. Some of my original eight plants were situated in back of our patio where they have grown 12 to15 feet tall and 8 feet wide. This planting serves us well as a privacy screen - another separates the rear cultivated area from our wildflower plantings. One drawback of the eight is that they occasionally need removal of a few dead branches - except for one of my specimens. This superior shrub is smothered in foliage from head to toe without ever needing corrective pruning. I cannot remember its original label, but I call it Pieris japonica 'Compacta.'

Today, about 40 Japanese andromeda cultivars are offered for sale somewhere. A few have rose or purplish-red flower buds in the wintertime. Others are slow growing dwarfs that reach only 2 to 3 feet. Many will become white flowered but several have pale, deep pink or rose colored blooms. Still other cultivars sport brilliant new reddish foliage in spring and summer while the leaves of others take on bronze tones during the winter.

Individual blooms may not be as dramatic as hybrid rhododendrons, but unlike evergreen rhodies, frigid weather does not cause the foliage to shrivel inward as a protection against the elements -- not a pleasant sight. Then, too, the early blooms of Japanese andromeda -- mid-April in my garden -- light up the landscape when only a few other shrubs and trees have come into their own.

The pendulous flower sprays must have looked like chains to early horticulturists. With this in mind, they called the plant “Andromeda" from Greek mythology. Andromeda was a goddess who was chained to a rock over a monster infested sea.

Japanese andromeda prefer a slightly acidic, well-drained soil. If and when they need some pruning, the best time to accomplish this is shortly after the seasonal blossoming. In this way, gardeners will not remove the newly forming blooms of tomorrow.

The chief problem with andromeda cultivation is that when planted in full sun, lace bugs may mar their appearance. It shows up as a yellowing or spotting of leaves. However, planting Japanese andromeda in a lightly shaded area minimizes, if not eliminates, the pests. Gardeners who are bothered by lace bugs can usually dislodge the newly emerging nymphs in early spring by spraying leaf undersides with a strong stream of hose water.

Some gardeners try to remove spent seed capsules. With large, mature shrubs, this is an impossible task and not absolutely necessary. Even if they are left, the spring flower display should still be significant and subsequently profuse.

Happily for many gardeners, there have been reports that andromeda is poisonous to deer who usually avoid the plants. On the other hand, without being eaten, older plant specimens often outgrow their allotted space, especially in foundation plantings. That is where some of the newer, smaller cultivars are useful.

The color-conscious gardener can create remarkable effects by teaming andromedas with other shrubs. You might try pairing the red budded and red flowered mountain laurel, Kalmia latifolia 'Sarah' with Pieris japonica 'Valley Valentine' or P.J. 'Scarlet O'Hara.' The new leaves of these andromedas have scarlet red growth that matches this blooming laurel.

Before physically moving the plants into the same area, cut a stem or two from each for comparison. Then decide whether or not this color pairing suits you. Combining pleasing colors is a very personal proposition. Let careful consideration guide you before you dig.

Where all green dominates a section of your landscaping, variegated underplantings add interest. For this purpose, you might use P.J. 'Variegata.' While sparse of bloom, the white edged foliage of this cultivar is quite attractive.

In any place where a low shrub fits the bill, the new P.J. 'Cavatine' is a good choice. This compact specimen has received praise for its heavy bloom. For a rock garden, you might try the small leafed P.J. 'Bisbee Dwarf' or 'Bonsai.' With special attention, these little beauties will probably remain with you longer than any fussy high alpine. However, dwarfs can take quite a few years to become fully established and thus, need careful watering during a drought.