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Key characteristics

Family: Ericaceae
Height: 3 to 5 feet
Width: 3 to 5 feet
Flower color: White, bell-shaped blooms
Foliage color: Variegated with red, pink, and green hues, changing over time
Bloom time: Early spring
Light: Prefers partial to full shade
Water: Regular
Maintenance: Low; requires occasional pruning to maintain shape and remove dead flowers
Growing zone: USDA zones 6a to 10b
Wildlife: Attracts bees and hummingbirds

Shrubs

Pieris japonica 'Flaming Silver'

Flaming Silver Pieris

Pieris japonica 'Flaming Silver' is an evergreen shrub that is known for its distinctive variegated foliage. New growth emerges in shades of red with pink margins, later transitioning to a combination of dark green, white, and pink hues. As spring arrives, the plant produces clusters of fragrant, white bell-shaped flowers. The foliage provides year-round interest, with the spring growth adding vibrant color before the leaves mature into a more subdued mix of green and white.

Light

Prefers partial to full shade

Water

Regular

Bloom time

Early spring

Find this plant

Works well in

Shade Gardens
Woodland Gardens
Containers
Deer Prone Areas

Companion plants

Mahonia · Rodgersia · Primrose · Japanese aralia · Bergenia · Maidenhair fern

Design tip

Against darker evergreen foliage, ‘Flaming Silver’ can brighten the composition even when it is not in bloom. Its shifting mix of red, pink, cream, and green creates changing color through the seasons, with white spring flowers adding another layer without competing with the variegation.

Printable plant sheet (PDF)