Bloomipedia
Japanese andromeda (Pieris japonica)
Photo: Randy A Nonenmacher via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flowering shrub

Japanese andromeda

Pieris japonica

Japanese andromeda (Pieris japonica) is a shrub in the Ericaceae family, blooming mostly March–April across the U.S.

🌷 Flowering shrub

Japanese andromeda is a popular flowering shrub. It's on our flower lists for 33 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in March–April.

0states where USDA records it
33Bloomipedia state lists include it
468U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 23, 2026. Our state lists also include states where people grow it in gardens, so they can outnumber USDA's wild-plant records. Planted garden shrubs are mostly excluded from research grade.

On our lists for: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia

Quick look

Pieris japonica, the Japanese andromeda or Japanese pieris, is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae. It is native to eastern China, Taiwan, and Japan, where it grows in mountain thickets. This medium-sized evergreen shrub or tree is widely cultivated in gardens.

  • It belongs to the Ericaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as white. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as mid spring. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 12 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 115 research-grade sightings of it in Pennsylvania, ranking #126 among the 190 flowers on our Pennsylvania list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 113 research-grade sightings of it in New York, ranking #127 among the 193 flowers on our New York list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 31 research-grade sightings of it in Maryland, ranking #133 among the 189 flowers on our Maryland list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (54 records)
Bloom time in the 33 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
Pennsylvania🌷 Gardenfew records (18)115
New York🌷 Gardenfew records (12)113
Maryland🌷 Gardenfew records (2)31
Massachusetts🌷 Gardenfew records (5)28
New Jersey🌷 Gardenfew records (2)26
Ohio🌷 Gardenfew records (2)26
North Carolina🌷 Gardenfew records (1)25
Virginia🌷 Gardenno flowering records23
Georgia🌷 Gardenfew records (2)15
Delaware🌷 Gardenfew records (2)12
Washington🌷 Gardenno flowering records8
West Virginia🌷 Gardenfew records (3)7
Alabama🌷 Gardenfew records (1)6
Connecticut🌷 Gardenno flowering records6
Oregon🌷 Gardenfew records (2)6
Rhode Island🌷 Gardenno flowering records5
Maine🌷 Gardenno flowering records4
Michigan🌷 Gardenno flowering records4
South Carolina🌷 Gardenfew records (1)4
Indiana🌷 Gardenno flowering records2
Tennessee🌷 Gardenno flowering records1
New Hampshire🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Alaska🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Arkansas🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
California🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Idaho🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Illinois🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Kentucky🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Missouri🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Mississippi🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Nevada🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Texas🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Vermont🌷 Gardenno flowering records0

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe
Unknown We couldn't find this name in NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe
State rare plant lists
Not listed Not on the official rare plant list in 24 of our 33 states.
See each state
Pennsylvania
Not listed Not on Pennsylvania classified native plants (17 Pa. Code Ch. 45, Subchapter B, as amended 2023). 17 Pa. Code Ch. 45
New York
Not listed Not on New York protected native plants (6 NYCRR § 193.3). 6 NYCRR § 193.3
Maryland
Not listed Not on Maryland threatened and endangered plants (COMAR 08.03.08.05, .06 and .08). COMAR 08.03.08
Massachusetts
Not listed Not on Massachusetts Endangered Species Act list (321 CMR 10.90). MESA list
New Jersey
Not listed Not on New Jersey Endangered Plant Species List (N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1). N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1
Ohio
Not listed Not on Ohio endangered and threatened plants (Ohio Adm. Code 1501:18-1-03, eff. Dec. 26, 2024). OAC 1501:18-1-03
North Carolina
Not listed Not on North Carolina Protected Plant Species List (02 NCAC 48F .0301). 02 NCAC 48F .0301
Virginia
Not listed Not on Virginia endangered and threatened plant and insect species (2VAC5-320-10). 2VAC5-320-10
Georgia
Not listed Not on Georgia protected plants (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-4-10-.09; a 2026 update is proposed). Ga. R. 391-4-10-.09
Delaware
Not listed Not on Rare and Uncommon Plants of Delaware (DNREC, 2024; informational, Delaware has no state plant-protection list). DE rare plants 2024
Connecticut
Not listed Not on Connecticut Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Plants (RCSA 26-306; 2015 list). CT E/T/SC list
Oregon
Not listed Not on Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070). OAR 603-073-0070
Rhode Island
Not listed Not on Rhode Island Rare Plants 2016 (RI Natural History Survey, from the RI Wildlife Action Plan; informational, Rhode Island has no state plant-protection listing law). RI rare plants 2016
Maine
Not listed Not on Maine Rare Plant List (Maine Natural Areas Program, 2021). E and T are Maine's official endangered and threatened plants (12 M.R.S.); SC and PE are tracking categories. Maine rare plant list
Michigan
Not listed Not on Michigan endangered and threatened plants (Mich. Admin. Code R 299.1028, eff. March 20, 2023). R 299.1028
Tennessee
Not listed Not on Tennessee endangered plants (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0400-06-02-.04, Rare Plant Protection and Conservation Act). TN rule 0400-06-02-.04
New Hampshire
Not listed Not on New Hampshire Official Rare Plants List (Ncr 312, eff. Jan 1, 2020). NH Ncr 312
California
Not listed Not on California state-listed endangered, threatened and rare plants (14 CCR § 670.2), per CDFW's CNDDB list (July 2026). CNDDB listed plants (July 2026)
Illinois
Not listed Not on Illinois List of Endangered and Threatened Flora (17 Ill. Adm. Code 1050), per the Endangered Species Protection Board's 2025 checklist. IL E&T checklist 2025
Kentucky
Not listed Not on Kentucky endangered and threatened plant lists (400 KAR 3:040, eff. 2026). 400 KAR 3:040
Missouri
Not listed Not on Missouri Wildlife Code endangered species (3 CSR 10-4.111), plants. 3 CSR 10-4.111
Nevada
Not listed Not on Nevada fully protected plants, critically endangered (NAC 527.010). NAC 527.010
Texas
Not listed Not on Texas endangered and threatened plants (31 Tex. Admin. Code § 69.8), as listed by Texas Parks and Wildlife. 31 TAC 69.8
Vermont
Not listed Not on Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022). Vermont E&T list
Washington
No list Washington has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the Washington Natural Heritage Program's rare plant list isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Washington ranks instead.
West Virginia
No list West Virginia has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (only federally listed species are protected), so we show NatureServe's West Virginia ranks instead.
Alabama
No list Alabama has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Alabama ranks instead.
South Carolina
No list South Carolina has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's South Carolina ranks instead.
Indiana
No list Indiana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the DNR keeps a rare plant list, but it isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Indiana ranks instead.
Alaska
No list Alaska has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Alaska ranks instead.
Arkansas
No list Arkansas has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Arkansas ranks instead.
Idaho
No list Idaho has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Idaho ranks instead.
Mississippi
No list Mississippi has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Mississippi ranks instead.

Checked October 23, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peoplePoisonous to people

NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: high). Poisonous parts: flowers, leaves, sap/juice. Symptoms they list: “The leaves and nectar are poisonous. Tingling sensation, salivation, nose running, eyes watering, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, abdominal pain, headache, cardiac failure, weakness, and convulsions; may be fatal.” NC State Extension

For petsToxic to dogs, cats and horses

ASPCA's entry “Andromeda Japonica” (Pieris japonica) lists it as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Signs include: Vomiting (not in horses), diarrhea, weakness, cardiac… ASPCA

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS has no state-by-state distribution for this name, so we can't map it yet.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Japanese andromeda a low shade tolerance, low drought tolerance and medium moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 4.2 to 5.5 and winter lows down to 2 °F.

Shade tolerance
Low
Drought tolerance
Low
Moisture use
Medium
Soil textures it is adapted to
medium
Soil pH range
4.2 to 5.5
Minimum temperature tolerated
2 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
200
Annual precipitation range
35 to 55 inches
Minimum root depth
12 inches
Salinity tolerance
None
Fertility requirement
Medium
Growth rate
Slow
Lifespan
Moderate
Active growth period
Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed
Brown · Spring to Summer
Can be propagated by
bare root, container, cuttings
Commercial availability
Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for PIJA3. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

More from the Ericaceae family (55 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Ghost pipe, Rhododendrons and azaleas, Striped wintergreen, Mountain laurel, Eastern teaberry (wintergreen), Salal, Woodland pinedrops, Pinesap.

More Pennsylvania flowers

Sources