Return to the Woodlands Forum
| Post a Follow-Up
What about pieris?
| | |
Posted by lynnski MA 5 (My Page) on Mon, May 12, 08 at 11:24
| At the borders of our woods, and in other locations as well, we have a shrubby plant that suckers madly. Now that spring is upon us in central Massachusetts, they are blooming and the blooms (if blooms is the right term) look like pieris/andromeda. However, the leaves are not evergreen, nor are they stiff like the leaves ons the pieris/andromeda that I remember from my suburban childhood. The bell-like blooms are a kind of dingy white, and they are not abundant. Also, the overall growth habit is rather rangey, not compact at all. (I recognize, however, that the growth habit I am observing may have very little to do with their "normal" habit; judging by the abundant stumps everywhere, I think that the suckers have been lopped off for years by previous owners.)
Is this plant considered desirable, tolerable, or invasive as a woodland shrub? It is not growing in the woods, but is abundant at the borders. How do you think it should be treated in a naturalistic woodland garden bordering woods and wetlands?
|
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: What about pieris?
| | |
| I think a picture would really help someone to identify it and then you can decide what to do with it. Rangy shrubs with white bell like blooms include Lyonia and Vaccinium of several types. |
RE: What about pieris?
| | |
| Could it possibly be a Serviceberry tree? They are a small tree that seems to like to grow on the edge of a woodland, and have dangling infloresences in springtime. If they were repeatedly cut back, they probably would appear to be shrublike. In the summertime they develop dark, almost black, edible berries the size of a wild blueberry. The birds love them--I have also found them to be tasty but usually leave them for the birds. |
RE: What about pieris?
| | |
| I forgot you said it was suckering. How about Leucothoe or Agarista? |
RE: What about pieris?
| | |
| Pieris floribunda and Leucothea are both evergreen. If it's only a foor or so high it could be low-bush blueberry. It definitely sounds like a Vaccinium, maybe Farkl;eberry if it's a couple feet tall. |
RE: What about pieris?
| | |
| Yes yes! I thought the leaves looked like blueberry, but never thought of the little lanterns as harbingers of berries-to-come. With your help, I now think they are wild messy blueberry bushes. I have no further questions about what to do with these treasures, as they are clearly happy in the environment and will give the birds lots of reasons to visit. Thanks! |
|
|
|
|
