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Fetterbush

Pieris floribunda (pee-AIR-iss flor-ih-BUN-dah)

Family: Ericaceae Native Shrub (3-15 ft)

A fragrant evergreen shrub that grows in a compact form. It boasts dark green foliage year-round. It forms attractive flower buds in the fall. This plant dislikes high temperatures and humidity and is very cold hardy. Protection from full sun in winter and sweeping winds is vital to the overall health of this shrub. When exposed, winter burn can occur. May be difficult to transplant and establish, but once established, a very resilient specimen. Propagation can be done by seed, cuttings are difficult. Rooting may be a better option. The shrub will tolerate pruning, but keep in mind that next season's blossoms appear on old growth. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: It is resistant to lace bugs. Stem rot disease may occur in locations with insufficient drainage.

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 60 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 3 - Shrub (3-15 ft) Optimal soil pH Acid (<6.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Native Plant; Perennial; Poisonous; Shrub
Life cycle
Perennial
USDA zones
4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Mounding; Oval; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Ovate
Leaf feel
Leathery
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Ciliate margins
Flower color
Cream/Tan; White
Flower value
Fragrant
Flower shape
Bell
Flower size
3-6 inches
Flower detail
Terminal, erect clusters, inverted urn-shaped, the short 5 lobes spreading. Flower buds bloom from May to June.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
Small brown capsules display from August to October.
Bark color
Dark Brown; Dark Gray
Bark detail
Breaks into vertical strips, rarely visible due to foliage
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
USA, North and South Carolina
Wildlife value
Attracts bees and bumblebees. Serves as a food source for birds.
Attracts
Bees; Small Mammals; Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Capsule

Edibility

Non edible

Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn; Meadow; Naturalized Area; Patio; Walkways
Landscape theme
Native Garden; Pollinator Garden; Rock Garden
Design feature
Accent; Foundation Planting; Mass Planting; Small groups; Specimen
Garden tags
#evergreen #fragrant flowers #specimen #hardy #poisonous #shrub #native garden #fragrant fruits #food source herbage #food source hard mast fruit #food source nectar #food source pollen #mammals #bumblebee friendly #food source fall #bird friendly #Audubon #bee friendly #frost tolerant #NC native #NC Native Pollinator Plant
Problems & Resistance
Problems
Poisonous to Humans
Particularly resistant to
Lace bugs
Propagation
Seed
Poison severity
High
Poison parts
Flowers; Leaves
Poison symptoms
Ingestion may cause tingling sensation, salivation, nose and eyes watering, nausea, vomiting, sweating, abdominal pain, headache, weakness, convulsions.
Toxic principle
Andromedotoxin
Contact dermatitis
No
Toxicity summary
High severity poison; parts: Flowers; Leaves

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.