What is this plant?
Posted on | Friday, February 26, 2010 | 14 Comments
I really like the smell of this plant. I always disregarded it as a shrub that fills space in the garden. There is one growing right outside my studio room window and yesterday, I was trying to get the screen back into the window and I plucked a couple stems to put into a vase. Later, Matt smelled it and said its scent was nice... and it was! It is fresh smelling, a little medicinal and just a little sweet. Does anyone know what it is called?
Thank you, in advance!
Update: Thanks to Amelia and Alison! It is Pieris japonica, or also known as the lily-of-the-valley shrub! Looks like lily-of-the-valley, but it is a shrub. It has to be easy to grow because it is growing like a weed outside my window and I've neglected to water it... umm, ever. It was here before we moved into the house.
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February 26, 2010 at 3:09 PM
Lily of the valley, I think. It smells wonderful! And is so cute. I think it grows best in the shade and it likes very moist areas. I have tried to grow it twice and it just won't grow for me. Lucky!
February 26, 2010 at 3:12 PM
Ok, so now that I look closer I take it back, I don't think it is Lily of the Valley :( The flowers look similar to Lily of the valley but there are too many of them and if it is a shrub then that is not right either. Sorry, good luck figuring it out.
February 26, 2010 at 3:13 PM
the flowers definitely look like lily of the valley, if its a shrub myra, it might be a flowering japonica - possibly "Pieris japonica" ?
February 26, 2010 at 3:22 PM
http://www.humeseeds.com/efpieris.htm
February 26, 2010 at 3:33 PM
Yeah! Woot!
Thank you Amelia and Alison! It is a shrub and after reading up on the link it is definitely pieris japonica/lily-of-the-valey shrub. Thank you!! I never would have figured it out myself. This shrub outside of my window is huge!
February 26, 2010 at 3:38 PM
It's pieris also known as andromeda. It looks great in bouquets...
http://www.gpage.com/catalog/detail.php?id=260&keyword=&show=13
http://www.zestnz.com/big/Other/Pieris.JPG
February 26, 2010 at 3:39 PM
yay! that's neat you noticed a medicinal smell Myra - i was reading a wikipedia entry about the genus "Pieris" and it says it can be crushed to treat or soothe pain!
February 26, 2010 at 3:41 PM
Thank you, Janet! You are spot on correct! I looked at the shrub some more and that is exactly what it is! :D So excited that it's not a mystery plant anymore. :)
Alison: really?? Sweet! I am going to look that up too. I always like "natural" remedies!
February 26, 2010 at 3:58 PM
hmm, just found a paper from the Journal of Natural Products that says a variety of "Pieris japonica" from China is a "poisonous plant", but used in "folk medicine to cure vomiting and diarrhea caused by sunstroke"... hmm more research and caution required ;)
maybe i should stick to marine invertebrates and not delve into plants ;)
February 26, 2010 at 4:14 PM
hmm:
http://www.plantsciences.ucdavis.edu/ce/king/PoisPlant/Tox-COM.htm
this website lists it at "Major toxicity"
perhaps wikipedia should be careful...
February 26, 2010 at 4:21 PM
Thank you, Alison, for looking into the details! That helps me!! :D
February 26, 2010 at 4:33 PM
sorry about that myra, i was concerned there for a minute, too many mixed messages out there on the internet :)
surely though, a very beautiful shrub!
February 26, 2010 at 8:15 PM
ohhh it's lovely
March 5, 2010 at 7:21 AM
gorgeous blog! i adore lily of the valley, can't wait for spring :-)