What is your soil pH? Ours is fairly high, and pieris rarely lasts two winters.

I am in SE NH and I have had a pieris for at least 10 years and it's probably my favorite shrub. Although we are zone 6a on the latest USDA map, we were always zone 5 before. Here's what the tag from the plant says:

- Cavatine Dwarf Andromeda (Pieris japonica var. yakushimanum 'Cavatine')

- Cold hardiness zone 5, to -20 degrees

-Part shade

- Height/Width 2' x 3' (mine is about 4' tall, however)

- Plant in well-drained, acid soil. Mulch well. (We do have acid soil...lots of pine and oak around)

Here's what it looks like in the winter

After winter really kicked in

I couldn't put my hands on a pic of it blooming, but those drooping clusters will be covered with little white flowers next month. Very pretty year round.

I don't know about lacebug. I have not had any insect damage.

Susan

Just thought I'd point point out that the presence of pines and oaks does not necessarily indicate an acidic soil. Contrary to popular belief, their litter does not make the soil acidic - that is due primarily to the underlying mineral content of the soil and the amount of rainfall the region receives. Acidic mineral content and heavy annual rainfalls = acid soil.

The breakdown/decomposition of acidic plant remains (conifer needles, oak leaves, etc.) results in a pretty much neutral pH, in the same manner you would find with any other compost. Some acids are leached out of fresh needles/leaves but their impact is insignificant. Those plants are only growing there because they find the soil chemistry compatible with their needs but they do NOT contribute to soil pH to any degree of significance one way or the other. As a testament to this concept, a fair number of pine and oak species actually prefer more alkaline soil conditions.

Okay, well our soil is acidic for whatever reason. We test it periodically because we do a lot of gardening. The OP wanted to know what pieris might work in the colder zones here in New England and I was just sharing my experience and growing conditions.

I have grown 'Brower's Beauty' and liked it a lot. Unfortunately, so did the voles, so I am in the market for another, but I haven't decided whether to go for the safe choice of another B'sB since it's fully hardy here, or try one of the less hardy ones in a sheltered position. (It will also be planted in one of the wire baskets I use on plants that the voles favor.) I didn't have any issue with lacebugs at either of two homes where I grew it.

Thanks. You all reminded me I really should get my soil tested by the extension service. Rhodies and relatives do well here. I'll keep looking . In addition to having Broward's Beauty, I have a variegated one. jjpretty sure it is forest flame, which has sulked for 3 years. It doesn't even have flowers this year.

I saw beautiful Dorothy Wycoff in full bloom at a nursery; it was lovely and got me thinking of getting more.

Thanks for the ideas.

Marie