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Pieris Mountain Fire

Pieris japonica 'Mountain Fire'

Nature Hills Nursery
$9291
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Plant Size

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

  • Sunlight: This shrub thrives in full sun to partial shade, requiring at least 4 to 6 hours of light for the best color. In warmer southern climates, provide afternoon shade to prevent leaf scorch, while gardeners in cooler zones can plant it in more sun to maximize the fiery red intensity of the new foliage.
  • Soil: Pieris demands acidic, well drained soil rich in organic matter, much like its cousins the Azaleas and Rhododendrons. If you have heavy clay that stays soggy, mix in plenty of compost or aged pine bark to improve drainage, or consider planting in a raised mound to keep the roots from sitting in water.

Watering Requirements

During the first two years, your Pieris needs about one inch of water per week to help its root system reach deep into the soil. Once established, this plant is surprisingly drought tolerant, but it still prefers a consistent drink to keep the evergreen leaves looking lush. If watering is hit or miss during the summer, you might notice fewer flower buds or "bud drop" the following spring because the plant is too stressed to support a heavy bloom.

Pruning Tips

Since Pieris sets its flower buds on old wood during the late summer, you should only prune immediately after the spring flowers have faded. Think of this like a light haircut to tidy up the shape and remove spent flower clusters, which signals the plant to put its energy into that famous red new growth rather than seed production. Avoid heavy pruning in late autumn or winter, or you will accidentally cut off next year's entire floral display.

Fertilizer Needs

Feed your Pieris in early spring before the buds open using a slow-release fertilizer designed for acid-loving plants like Rhododendrons. This provides the specific nutrients needed to maintain a low soil pH and keep the leaves a deep, glossy green. Avoid applying high-nitrogen fertilizers late in the summer because this encourages tender new growth that cannot toughen up before the first frost, leading to unsightly winter dieback.

Delivery and Shipping

Preorder Shipping Schedule

We ship your plants when it's safe to transport them to your zone. Dates are estimated and subject to weather delays.

Zone 3-4 Week of March 30th
Zone 5 Week of March 16th
Zone 6 Week of March 2nd
Zone 7 Week of February 23rd
Zone 8-12 Week of February 15th


Shipping Rates

Ships in 3-4 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected

Under $50 $9.99
$50 - $99.99 $14.99
$100 - $149.99 $16.99
$150 - $198.99 $24.99
$199+ FREE

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Show-stopper Pieris Mountain Fire Thrives in Partial Shade!

  • Gorgeous Fiery Spring Growth
  • Glossy Green Foliage
  • Great in Partial Shade
  • Evergreen
  • Fragrant White Flowers
  • Great Size for Privacy
  • Pollinator Friendly
  • Xeriscaping
  • Fire-Wise Landscaping
  • Drought-Tolerant Once Established

Pieris Mountain Fire (Pieris japonica 'Mountain Fire'), also know as Japanese Andromeda Mountain Fire, is a partial-shade garden show-stopper! Pieris Mountain Fire offers so many interesting features, you'll wonder why you waited this long to plant a few!

An amazingly ornamental evergreen, Mountain Fire will add some gorgeous color to your landscape year-round! From the start of the year, the foliage has flaming red, early spring hues, and in summer as it ages it turns burgundy then to a deep green for the main portion growing season. In winter it is thoroughly evergreen and stays that way until spring's red leaves arrive.

The spring foliage is always mixed with the previous year's leaves of pure green, so it looks almost like red flowers blooming on the bush. It doesn't take long, though, for the red leaves to give way to fragrant clusters of pinkish-white flowers that form in unusual hanging chains and dangle from the plant.

Looking similar to Lily of the Valley, these blooms on Pieris Mountain Fire will cause a lot of garden chatter! Pollinators will adore your Mountain Fire as much as you will!

How to Use Pieris Mountain Fire In The Landscape

Broadleaf evergreen shrubs are perfect additions throughout the landscape to provide greenery spring, summer, fall and winter! Looking fabulous in Asian-inspired gardens and both informal and formal plantings, cottage and rustic gardens alike!

This slightly arched shrub can easily be shaped into a lovely low privacy hedge, or it fits nicely into tight spots as a foundation plant. If left to its own devices, this creates a sizeable privacy hedge and screen with year-round protection. Its slower-growing nature makes them ultra-low maintenance and requires little pruning.

Try Mountain Fire in your mixed border and with spikier evergreens like Holly or Juniper for a great year-round show. The evergreen foliage of this shrub will make it a permanent fixture to your shrub border or to accent your other shrubs, becoming a verdant backdrop for perennials and smaller shrubs.

The fiery red new growth and dark green, glossy foliage make Mountain Fire a unique and stand-out focal point.

#ProPlantTips For Care

For best results, Japanese Pieris thrives in moderately fertile, organically rich, humusy, and slightly acidic soil. These do best in well-drained soil and do not like to sit in standing water at all.

Once established however Pieris is highly drought tolerant and great plantings for Xeriscaping and fire-wise plantings.

Doing best in partial shade, Pieris in dappled sun and cold winters benefit greatly with mulch around the base of the root system. You might need to give it a little TLC and protect it in winter until it is established.

Mountain Fire Japanese Pieris will become your garden's stand-out specimen plant with year-round appeal. Don't miss having one of these beauties in your garden this year! Call to order yours from Nature Hills Nursery today!

Growing Zones 5-8

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mountain Fire® Pieris deer resistant?
  • Yes, deer do not prefer the taste of Pieris shrubs, making them an excellent low-maintenance choice for areas with browsing wildlife.

What type of soil does Mountain Fire® Pieris need?
  • It thrives in humusy, organically rich, slightly acidic soil that drains well. Avoid planting it where water collects.

Does Mountain Fire® Pieris attract pollinators?
  • Absolutely. Its spring flower clusters are highly attractive to bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.

Can Mountain Fire® Pieris be grown as a hedge?
  • Yes, it makes a fantastic low to medium privacy hedge or screen thanks to its dense evergreen foliage and slightly arched habit.

How big does Mountain Fire® Pieris get?
  • This shrub grows into a sizeable form with enough presence to stand out as a focal point or anchor plant in the garden.
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