Is anyone growing Pieris Japonica?

Hi All,

Quick question, is anyone growing pieris as bonsai? If so, can you please show me your photos. Love to see what people are doing with these trees.

Thanks in advance.

Jarrod

I had one for a short while but it did not survive its first winter... that was my fault, however, for not giving it proper protection.

I have one that I picked up this spring, but it is nothing to look at yet. I thinned it out the tiniest bit when I repotted as soon as I got it and it responded with suckers and course growth. I have a feeling that the best way to style these is to let them grow on their own accord, but only time will tell. The flowers sure do look and smell sweet.

Anyone else have any pictures of Pieris they are growing?

Here is one i collected a few weeks ago (i am in Australia) in a pot that is about a metre (3 feet) wide. and i think it will make a great tree if it survives the collection process. I was just wondering how people deal with the foliage.

Jarrod, that's a great start! Please keep us posted, I've often wondered if they can survive being cut back like that. Pieris has growth and flowering characteristics that may be challenging for bonsai development so this should be interesting.

R

I'm not growing any pieris, but if you have access to International Bonsai magazine, there is a photo of one that was exhibited in the 2008 Kokufu Bonsai Ten in Japan. The photo is on page 39 of the 2008/#2 issue.

Chris

Hi Jarrod.
I did have a beautiful old one, but (as a beginner then) i potted it in bad soil.
It got a fungus on the roots and died.
I think Pieris Japonica should have enough feeder roots to survive a good cutback and to become a good back budding.
regards, Sunip

Well they do take to being collected, and here is a 12 month update on this one!

Nice work. Now that it has survived I can say that it is quite a nice hunk of material. I hear that these are similar to azalea and may appreciate some acid loving fertilizer, but looks plenty healthy as is.

Sweet material, I have wondered how well they would do as bonsai as I have several I planted around my yard

Yeah, I am treating them much like an azalea, and will update you as I discover new things.

I am unsure how the foliage is going to go when groomed as a bonsai but time will tell.