Pieris japonica 'VALLEY VALENTINE' lily-of-the-valley bush

Lustrous green foliage of Valley Valentine pieris complements extraordinary deep rose-pink flowers which come out from late March till early April. They are urn-shaped, sweetly scented, composed in long, pendent racemes, and last for 2-4 weeks. Deadhead spent flowers immediately after flowering so that the plant has enough strength to produce profusion of new shoots that will make the plant denser. Flower buds are formed in late summer and overwinter. For good maturing of them we suggest fertilizing the plant from summer until mid-autumn.

The evergreen leaves are leathery, narrowly lance-shaped, dark green, slightly pendent and glossy.
Newly emerging growths are reddish-bronze before they mature to green. This happens twice or even three times a year. It likes moist, fertile, slightly acidic soil and prefers part shade though it can grow in full sun or shade. Mulch it well if planted in full sun. Once established it withstands temporary summer droughts. Fully hardy to about -27°C (USDA zone 5).

Last update 26-02-2011