Pieris Forest Flame

Pieris Japonica Forest Flame is an upright, evergreen shrub with glossy dark green leaves, which are a striking red when young, turning pink, white and finally green in Spring. Pieris Forest Flame has clusters of pendent white flowers in spring. Max Height 2m. Max Spread 1m. Flowers April to May. Full Sun/Partial Shade. Frost hardy. See also Pieris Flaming Silver and Pieris Japonica Katsura. Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society, a sure sign that it will perform well in most gardens. 

Pieris Japonica Forest Flame or Pieris Forest Flame originated as a woodland shrub. It boasts an array of foliage colours from red through to green and is an ideal addition to a woodland garden. Pieris Forest Flame is a slow-growing shrub that will reach eventually a height of two metres and spread to a metre wide. In spring new leaves shoot through with a vivid splash of red, these leaves turn pink, cream and finally glossy green across the summer months. In spring Pieris Forest Flame also develops attractive bell-shaped flowers in a bright cream shade that contrast against its foliage. These flowers fall in pendant clusters, last for months and attract many pollinators. In winter Pieris Forest Flame retains its green foliage and in older specimens the trunk can curl and twist into interesting shapes. 
Pieris Forest Flame is hardy against frost in most areas of the UK but may struggle in far northern areas where temperatures are consistently freezing. Younger plants will need some winter protection from extreme cold and wet, but once established they are capable of looking after themselves. Container-bound Pieris will benefit from bubble wrap or other insulation as this will prevent cold damaging its roots in very cold snaps. 
A Pieris Japonica Forest Flame is always in season. Place it in the flower border where you can admire its foliage all year round, they are always colourful no matter the month and because Forest Flame is an architectural plant it lifts a garden that needs some texture, height and shape. After several years growth in suitable conditions Forest Flame will add interest at the tricky mid-height area.
Pieris Forest Flame will happily grow in a container if it receives enough water. Use ericaceous compost for the best colour foliage and place one on your doorstep for a bright welcome home whatever the season. 
Pieris Forest Flame prefers full sun and will tolerate part shade. It needs well-drained but moist soil preferably loam or sand. It will grow best in an acidic soil. If you have a garden where rhododendrons and azaleas live happily, then a Pieris Forest Flame will thrive there.