Pieris 'Forest Flame' – Evergreen Shrub
Pieris 'Forest Flame' – Evergreen Shrub
Pieris 'Forest Flame' – Evergreen Shrub
One of the most striking evergreens you can plant, Pieris 'Forest Flame' earns its name with a breathtaking spring display of vivid scarlet new growth that gradually softens through pink and cream before maturing to a rich, glossy green. Paired with cascading clusters of white, lily-of-the-valley-style flowers, it delivers year-round interest in a single plant.
Why gardeners love it
- Fiery spring foliage – brilliant red new growth from March onwards; a genuine garden showstopper
- Delicate white flowers – pendulous clusters of bell-shaped blooms in early spring
- Year-round evergreen structure – glossy dark foliage provides colour and form through winter
- Compact and well-behaved – slow-growing habit suits borders, containers, and courtyard gardens
- Fully hardy – reliable across UK gardens; RHS Award of Garden Merit holder
Growing guide
Pieris thrives in acidic, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil — ideal alongside rhododendrons, azaleas, and camellias. Choose a sheltered spot in partial shade to protect the vivid new growth from late frosts. Avoid alkaline soils; if your soil is neutral or chalky, grow in a container with ericaceous compost. Minimal pruning required — simply remove any dead or damaged stems after flowering.
Supplied as a well-established container-grown plant, ready to bring immediate colour and structure to your garden.
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Planting Instructions
Pieris 'Forest Flame' is supplied as a container-grown shrub and can be planted year-round, though spring and autumn are ideal. It requires acidic soil conditions to thrive.
- Choose a sheltered position in partial shade to protect the vivid red new growth from late frosts and cold winds.
- Plant in acidic, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil (pH 4.5-6.0). Avoid alkaline or chalky soils.
- If your soil is neutral or alkaline, grow in a container using peat-free ericaceous compost.
- Dig a hole twice the width of the root ball and to the same depth as the pot.
- Backfill with ericaceous compost or soil enriched with leaf mould, firm gently, and water thoroughly.
- Water regularly during the first growing season, especially in dry spells.
- Minimal pruning required - remove dead or damaged stems after flowering in late spring.
Size & Specification
Supplied as a well-established container-grown shrub, ready to provide immediate colour and structure in your garden.
- Mature height and spread: typically 1.5-2 metres over 10+ years.
- Growth rate: slow - approximately 10-15cm per year.
- Compact, bushy, upright habit - well-suited to borders and containers alike.
- RHS Award of Garden Merit holder - a proven performer in UK gardens.
- Supplied in a nursery pot, ready to plant or display on arrival.
Delivery & Dispatch
Dispatched as a container-grown shrub, carefully packaged to protect the foliage and root ball during transit.
- Delivered by courier - delivery method and timescales confirmed at checkout.
- Typical dispatch within 3-5 working days of order.
- Packaged securely to prevent movement and foliage damage in transit.
- For multiple orders please contact us to discuss delivery arrangements.
Wildlife & Ecological Notes
Pieris 'Forest Flame' offers good ecological value in the garden, particularly in spring:
- Clusters of white bell-shaped flowers in early spring provide an early nectar source for bumblebees and other pollinators emerging from hibernation.
- Dense evergreen foliage provides year-round shelter and nesting cover for small birds.
- Well-suited to planting alongside rhododendrons, azaleas, and camellias to create a wildlife-friendly acid-loving border.
- Slow-growing and long-lived - a low-input plant requiring no pesticides or regular feeding once established.