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 Pieris FlamingoLily of the Valley
 Pieris Flamingo
Convallaria belongs to the lily family and the small rounded pure white bells are produced on single flowering stems in spring. These arise from the ground with the new leaves which are broad and a lovely fresh green.. The flowers last well in water. It is a funny plant to grow as it grows where it likes and not always where it is planted. So try it in several places in the garden. It reputedly likes semi shady but does love composted soil. Also give it well rotted animal manure and fallen leaves as a mulch. Lily of the Valley blooms more freely in colder climates where the rhizomes can be chilled for a period.
The rhizomes or pips are available for sale in bundles through winter .Plant these bits with the pips just showing and 5cms apart. In the right situation Lily of the Valley will flourish and soon form a dense mass. I prefer to plant them in a border where their progress can be contained, eg next to a path. Eventually the rhizomes will need to be thinned out to ensure quality blooms.
I have a pink flowered form, really a lilac pink, but it is a weak grower with smaller flowers than the white.
The shrub version of Lily of the Valley is a member of the Erica family, Pieris. These are hardy woody shrubs from East Asia, the West Indies and East North America .They are slow growing, but enduring and always look decorative through the seasons. Pieris like the same growing conditions as Rhododendrons, Camellias and Azaleas and I like to see them growing in conjunction with these plants as they give a softness and informality that the others lack.
Grow in semi shade or full sun if the soil can be keep moist through dry periods. Mulch to keep the surface roots well covered and feed with acid fertilizer and sheep pellets. As my soil is acid I just give sheep pellets in late winter.
The flowers are borne on arching racemes in early spring. These flowers are bells reminiscent of the true Lily of the Valley but there are many more of them densely packed along the stems. The flowers are delicately scented and are visited by bees and bumblebees. Remove the flowers after flowering otherwise the shrub will put its energy into forming seeds. The panicles of seeds are not an attractive feature and un pruned shrubs can become leggy .I prune mine back by at least a third all over straight after flowering to promote the gorgeous coloured new shoots. Next years flowers will be formed on these new shoots. The flowers are formed by late summer and these panicles are a feature through autumn and winter as they lay gracefully over the foliage.
While all these shrubs have very appealing deep green leaves most have stunning spring new leaves in shades of cream ,pink and red.
Varieties.
Pieris Formosa Lord Wakehurst
The largest grower, 2ms tall. Best grown in shade .Brilliant fiery new spring leaves that fade to pink and mature to deep green. Long lanceolate leaves. Glistening pearly white fragrant flowers in cone shaped panicles.
Pieris Japonica Bert Chandler
More a foliage plant as is rather shy to flower. Spring foliage is salmon, then a soft yellow, cream to white before maturing to a deep green. All foliage colours are on the bush at the same time. Grow in dappled light in a sheltered environment.1.2ms tall
Pieris Japonica Christmas Cheer ( Syn Tickled Pink )
Panicles of fragrant white flowers, delicately tinned deep rose at the tips. A compact tidy grower with bronzy new spring leaves. Grows 1.3ms
Pieris japonica Dorothy Wyckoff
Deep burgundy red winter buds open to fragrant pink tinged flowers, fading to white .A slender and erect compact grower .Spring shoots are burgundy red, maturing dark green. Grows 1.3ms
Pieris japonica Flamingo
Slightly fragrant, rosy purplish red flowers fading to deep pink, the deepest colour amongst Pieris. Compact rounded grower with rich bronzy red new shoots. These mature to deep green. Grows 1.5ms
Pieris Japonica Forest Flame
A hybrid between Lord Wakehurst and Japonica. New spring shoots are red, changing to pink, creamy white and finally bright green. White fragrant flowers in large spreading panicles. A large grower with a dense growth habit. 1.8ms
Pieris japonica Pink Delight
Pink buds open to white fragrant flowers, lightly tinted pink, in long pendant clusters. Coppery new shoots mature dark green. Grows 1.5ms
Pieris japonica Variegata
A lovely foliage plant which glows in semi shaded positions. Silvery white and green leaves .Slow growing and attains an oriental shape which doesn’t require any pruning apart from dead flower removal. New spring shoots are flushed pink. Short panicles of white flowers. Grows 1m.
Pieris Temple Bells
A distinctive variety from Taiwan with a matt surface to its deep green leaves. New shoots are bronzed in spring. The large panicles of white flowers are more erect than the other varieties. Has a broadly spreading form.1.3ms
 Pieris Temple Bells
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