Great Design Plant: Little Heath Andromeda Brings 4-Season Color
I always look for interesting foliage when selecting shrubs for the landscape or a container, and Little Heath andromeda is a reliable favorite. The small green and white variegated leaves form a tidy mound, unlike some of its larger cousins that can become rather awkward with age. Although this shrub is evergreen, the foliage changes color twice a year; the new growth in spring is a soft pink, and the entire bush turns rosy hues in fall and winter.
Group shrubs in the dappled light under deciduous trees or at the edge of a woodland where they will be protected from the hot afternoon sun. Or use them in containers while they are small, transplanting them to the landscape when they outgrow their pots. If the delightful leaves aren’t enough to convince you to try Little Heath, then the fragrant white flowers in spring surely will.
Botanical name: Pieris japonica ‘Little Heath’
Common names: Andromeda, lily-of-the-valley shrub, pieris
Origin: Japan
Where it will grow: Hardy to -20 degrees Fahrenheit (USDA zones 5 to 9; find your zone)
Water requirement: Regular
Light requirement: Protection from hot afternoon sun, but the shrub turns the best spring color with full morning sun
Mature size: 3 feet tall and wide
Benefits and tolerances: Deer resistant; a hummingbird favorite; can be sheared for size (although it’s not necessary)
Seasonal interest: Year-round
When to plant: Spring or fall
Caution: All parts of the plant are poisonous if ingested.
Distinguishing traits. This offers true four-season interest. While the pretty green and white variegated leaves are evergreen, the pink new growth in spring is especially attractive, with racemes of fragrant, bell-like white flowers. As the temperature dips in fall, the entire shrub takes on a delightful rosy blush.
How to use it. Highlight the finely textured foliage by pairing it with much bolder leaves. In this spring combination, the oversize leaves of Rotlaub Rodger’s flower (Rodgersia podophylla ‘Rotlaub’) make a striking companion, repeating the deeper spring color while creating a contrast in texture.
In container gardens: Since Little Heath stays nice and compact, it makes a well-behaved addition to container gardens. Echo the clean white variegation by planting it with a white blooming camellia, as shown here.
In the landscape: Since this shrub offers year-round interest, it is an ideal candidate for planting with herbaceous perennials.
Here the designer has combined it with the summer blooming Zagreb tickseed (Coreopsis verticicllata ‘Zagreb’). When this perennial becomes dormant in winter, the andromeda will continue to add color to the border.
Planting notes. Plant in acidic, well-drained, moisture-retentive soil. I have never worried about fertilizing mine, since my soil is naturally acidic. However, should you feel it necessary, use an ericaceous fertilizer that is designed for acid-loving plants such as rhododendrons, heathers and camellias.
More: A Great Spring Plant Combo for Dappled Shade
