Pieris floribunda ‘Forest Flame’

The most fantastic colour on the new growth of all the Pieris. Slightly taller growing too - maybe 7 ft after 10 years.

All the Pierises create a shapely, layered, lumpy-bumpy profile in time. It might take 15 years in some cases but it's definitely worth the wait. Apart from this wonderful shape, you have prolific quantities of white hanging bell shaped flowers, gorgeous new red growth and beautiful stringy bark on older plants. Some of the shapely little Pieris trees found in National Trust gardens planted by Victorians, are worth the entrance fee too.

They like good organic acid soil and a bit of shade and they're slow growing - 5ft after 10 years maybe. If you see Pieris that looks more like a small tree in a National Trust garden, remember it was probably planted in 1860.

We have also started experimenting with Pieris Niwaki on the nursery using very old ones and we've had some beautiful results.

Propagated by cuttings.

N.B. When clipping several plants with the same tool, have a bucket containing a 5% bleach solution and swish your blades around for 30 seconds between plants to sterilise them. This will help avoid the chance of cross contamination of disease.

As with all woody plants, plant high, exposing as much of the taper at the base of the trunk as possible. Allowing soil to accumulate round the base of a tree can be fatal. Keep very well watered when first planted.