The Mountain Fire Pieris Growth Rate

The mountain fire pieris is a hybrid cultivar of the shrub Japanese pieris. It is a popular ornamental species that produces glossy green leaves and small white flowers. It is an evergreen shrub that maintains its foliage year round and produces small, persistent berries with a hard shell. The Japanese pieris is known for the red tint of new growth which is significantly more visible in the mountain fire cultivar than in other varieties of Japanese pieris.

The mountain fire pieris is a native species of Japan, Taiwan and parts of eastern China. It is well-suited to growth in USDA hardiness zone 5 and the warmer parts of zone 4. The mountain pieris is categorized as a broad-leaf evergreen shrub that grows in an upright, branching habit. Its overall shape is rounded with dense foliage. This shrub is a slow growing variety that home landscapers can expect to reach between 6 and 8 feet in height with a similar breadth.

The mountain fire pieris grows best in USDA hardiness zone 5 where the temperature does not routinely fall below 2 degrees Fahrenheit. It prefers acidic soils with a pH rating between 4.2 and 5.5 with moderately coarse soil texture. The mountain fire pieris requires a moderate amount of water to thrive and does best in regions that have an average annual precipitation level between 35 and 55 inches.

The growth of the mountain fire pieris is influenced by a variety of factors including location and treatment. The mountain fire pieris is a shade-tolerant plant that can tolerate locations that receive full exposure to the sun but does better in shady spots. It thrives on soil that is routinely kept moist but is well-drained and relatively cool. Mountain fire pieris has a relatively shallow root system that makes it vulnerable to damage in windswept areas.

Mountain fire pieris is vulnerable to the winter weather found in the areas of the United States capable of supporting it. Extreme winter weather in zone 5 routinely causes the shrub's white flower buds to freeze during the winter, preventing them from blooming. The relatively high requirement of the mountain fire pieris for water frequently results in winter damage from dessication of the shrub. The growth of mountain fire pieris is also affected by the pest lacebug. This pest is a source of severe stippling on the foliage of the shrub, which is further exacerbated by hot, dry weather. Mountain fire pieris is also susceptible to phytophthora root rot. The occurrence of phytophthora root rot is often lessened by ensuring that the planting site for the shrub has adequate drainage.