Pieris japonica 'LITTLE FROSTY' lily-of-the-valley shrub
size/type
small shrub,small shrub
usual height
0,3-0,6m
usual width
0,3-0,6m
leaves
evergreen broadleaf
colour of leaves
location
full to partial sun
soil type
acidic (peaty)
soil moisture requirements
evenly moist (dislikes drought)
USDA zone (lowest)
5b (down to -27°C)
winter protection
for zone 5+6
for zone 7
categorized
Lily-of-the-valley shrubs are very popular ericaceous plants with attractive foliage and abundant flowering. There are so many varieties already that you think it impossible that breeders could come up with a new one, distinctly different from the others. This new Dutch variety might look identical to an older one called Little Heath, still, it is different, especially with its more rounded, compact habit.
Description of the plant:
Little Frosty is a dwarf lily-of-the-valley shrub bred by Ron van Opstal. Its evergreen leaves are narrowly elliptic, short, acuminate, medium green with white variegation at margins. In spring they emerge coppery orange to orange brown and their white margins gain pink shades. In winter pink colour returns, especially to the tips which turn rich pink. Winter also enhances the colour of the stems which are purple red. All in all, one could say this plant is more attractive in winter which makes it an ideal pick for locations that are in frequent use, especially in winter, such as entrances, pathways leading to them, and places near the windows - evergreen plants create the best choice when you want to see a lively landscape even at times when the weather is not really tempting for an outside walk.
Little Frosty is rather slow growing and makes a uniform, rounded, evergreen shrub which needs no pruning to remain handsome. Yet clipping and pruning is possible any time from spring until midsummer. The breeder mentions short clusters of white, urn-shaped flowers in early spring, however, we have not witnessed any yet, and possibly, just like some other dwarf pieris varieties, this one, too, might be a little shy when it comes to flowering. In any case, if the flowers do appear make sure to remove them soon after flowering to prevent production of seeds that exhaust the plant and make it look untidy.
Ericaceous plants require soil that is light, on the acidic side, and constantly moist (not wet). If your garden soil is too heavy do not dig a deep hole but make a shallow and wide bed topped up with a good mixture of peat, fine bark chips, and leaf mould. Keep the soil moist and protected from temperature swings by mulching. Slow-release fertilizers are advised. Pieris does best in sun or partial shade. Expected hardiness is about -27°C (USDA zone 5b).
Last update 12-12-2018
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GLOSSARY
- STANDARD QUALITY - Plants of this group are 1st class quality with number of branches and overall density adequate to their size and age, considering they were container grown.
- DE LUXE QUALITY - This label guarantees a luxurious quality of manually selected plants that, compared to their height and age, are exceptionally dense and beautiful.
- EXTRA - These plants are usually mature and bigger specimens with exceptional overall appearance.
- STANDARD (as described in the plant form) means a tree with a trunk of 190-210 cm and a crown at the top, unless specified differently. The commercial size for trees is their girth measured in the height of 1m from ground.
- HOBBY - These plants are of the same quality as our standard-quality plants but younger and therefore cheaper.
- SHRUB - a woody plant with branches growing bushy from the ground level.
- HALF-STANDARD or MINI-STANDARD - a small tree with shorter trunk, its size is usually specified.
- FEATHERED - These are trees with branches growing already from the base of the trunk and up along the stem.
- GRASSES and PERENNIALS - Sizes given usually read the diameter of the pot or the clump, as specified.
