Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
Pieris is one of the best early blooming shrubs for the home garden. Compact Japanese Andromeda gives you the early blooms that native bees love while needing less pruning and maintenance. The individual flowers of the Andromeda are small, but they are clustered in long racemes that cover this evergreen shrub. Another common name for Pieris is the Lily of the Valley shrub because the flowers and scent are similar to the classic cottage garden plant. After the blooms are finished, beautiful red new foliage emerges and turns green as it matures. The evergreen leaves make a glossy backdrop for perennials and summer blooming shrubs.
Compact Japanese Andromeda will thrive in either a sunny exposure or a lightly shaded woodland setting. Compact Japanese Andromeda will grow to 5-6 feet in height and 5-6 feet in width and is best used as a foundation plant to anchor a flower bed and provide year round interest. This shrub is drought tolerant when well established and is very deer resistant. The flowers bloom on year old wood, so any light pruning to maintain shape is done in the summer after blooming has finished.
Compact Japanese Pieris Care
Pieris Japonica Compacta likes soil that is of average fertility and on the acidic side with a pH of 5.0 - 6.6. A fertilizer formulated for acid loving plants only needs to be applied once during the growing season.The best time to apply is after blooming has finished and the new growth is starting to emerge.They combine well with other acid loving shrubs such as Rhododendron and Azalea. Pieris appreciate moist soil that is well drained.
Evergreen generally means low maintenance and this Pieris is no exception. A gentle nipping back of spent blooms when it is finished in the early summer is the only pruning or shaping needed. Cutting too far back into the woody stem will sacrifice blooms the following year.
Compact Japanese Pieris Spacing
Plants need to be spaced 4-5 feet on center when planted in the ground. Pieris can also be used as large container planted shrubs that would be an interesting evergreen focal point for a walkway or front porch. They will be happiest in at least a pot that is 12 inches or more in diameter. Pieris planted in containers need excellent drainage and watered more often during the summer months.
Compact Japanese Pieris Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 5 to 8 (perennial); grown as an annual elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown indoors elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown in containers elsewhere (grown as a seasonal crop)
- Sun Exposure
- Part Shade to Part Sun (3-6 Hours Direct Sun)
- Mature Height
- 5-6 Feet
- Mature Spread
- 5-6 Feet
- Growth Rate
- Slow
- Growth Habit
- , Upright, Mounded
- Water Needs
- Average
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- , White
- Flower Description
- White
- Bloom Time
- Early Spring
- Blooms On
-
Old Wood
?
"Blooms on" tells you which stems produce flowers, which decides when it's safe to prune.
- New Wood: Flowers form on stems that grow this season. Prune in late winter or early spring without losing blooms.
- Old Wood: Flower buds form on last year's stems. Prune right after flowering. Pruning in fall or early spring removes next year's blooms.
- Both New and Old Wood: Blooms on last year's stems and again on new growth, so it flowers even after a hard winter or a mistimed pruning. Prune lightly after the first flush of blooms.
- When to Prune
- Right after flowering
- Foliage Color
- , Green
- Foliage Description
- Deep Green, Shiny
- Foliage Type
- , Evergreen
- Seasonal Interest
- , Spring Flowering, 4 Season Interest, Winter Interest
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- Compact Japanese Pieris
- Botanical Name
- PIERIS JAPONICA 'COMPACTA'
- Plant Type
- Shrub
Simple Plant Spacing Calculator
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
We stand behind our plants with industry-leading guarantees to give you peace of mind.
We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
Starting January 1, 2026 all bushes, perennials & trees purchased come with an extended 1-year warranty for added confidence. If your plant dies due to a health issue within a year, we’ll make it right.
Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!