Shrub to several metres tall. Branchlets mostly hairless. Leaves about 4-10 cm long, obovate to lanceolate, often red at first, margins saw-toothed. Flower clusters drooping or erect, axillary, individual flowers white to pinkish; late winter to spring. Fruit more or less ovoid.
Japan, Taiwan, E China
The differences between several of the cultivars is slight.
var. yakushimensis Yamazaki Differs in having an erect flower cluster with the flower stalks bent back at flowering but erect in fruit.
Source: (1997). Ericaceae. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 2. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 1. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.
Pieris japonica 'Bert Chandler'
New growth pink turning yellow, white then dark green.
Australian-raised cultivar.
Pieris japonica 'Christmas Cheer'
Early flowering, the flowers coloured white and red.
Compact shrub, petals pink, with a deep pink sepals. '
Young growth bronzish red, flowers a deep pink.
Pieris japonica 'Forest Flame'
(P. formosa 'Wakehurst' × P. japonica). Habit compact. New growth changing from pink to cream and pale green.
Pieris japonica 'Mountain Fire'
New growth deep red.
Slow-growing and dwarf with narrow leaves and white flowers.
Erect shrub with dark green leaves and long erect spikes of white flowers.
Pieris japonica 'Scarlett O'Hara'
New growth red, flowers flecked with red.
Pieris japonica 'Spring Candy'
Dwarf, rounded shrub with wavy leaves.
Pieris japonica 'Temple Bells'
New growth orange-pink, flowers large, white.
Leaves small with white margins, flowers white.