Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Pieris japonica

Pieris japonica

9.7
A small evergreen bush with shiny leaves and drooping clusters of white flowers often grown in gardens
  • noun
  • /ˈpɪərɪs dʒəˈpoʊnɪkə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Pieris japonica
  • The garden was brightened by the Pieris japonica in early spring, thanks to its elegant clusters of white blossoms.

Examples

  • The nursery had several varieties of Pieris japonica, each with slightly different leaf coloration.

  • Many gardeners love Pieris japonica for its elegant flowers.

  • Gardeners often choose Pieris japonica for shaded borders because of its attractive foliage.

  • The Pieris japonica blooms beautifully in spring.

  • Gardeners often choose Pieris japonica for shaded borders because of its attractive foliage.

  • The garden was brightened by the Pieris japonica in early spring, thanks to its elegant clusters of white blossoms.

  • The nursery had several varieties of Pieris japonica, each with slightly different leaf coloration.

Synonyms

Japanese andromeda
vsPieris japonica
9.4

A shrub with wide evergreen leaves and hanging groups of white flowers grown in gardens

emphasizes glossy leaves and drooping clusters of white flowers
lily-of-the-valley tree
vsPieris japonica
8.9

An evergreen shrub with shiny leaves and hanging sweet-smelling white flowers

notes similar flowers but does not mention fragrance
andromeda
vsPieris japonica
9.3

A small evergreen bush with glossy leaves and clusters of small white flowers

is a more specific Asian shrub with drooping clusters and cultivation

Surface Forms

Pieris japonica singular
Pieris japonicas plural

Morphology

Pieris + japonica

This is a compositional botanical binomial: knowing 'Pieris' (a type of evergreen shrub) and 'japonica' (a specific/ornamental epithet) allows a learner to infer it denotes a particular kind of Pieris shrub. Genus+species naming is a regular, cross-linguistic pattern, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents can understand the overall meaning.

Etymology

Pieris japonica comes from the way scientists name plants: Pieris is the group name given by plant experts, and japonica means 'from Japan'. So, the name tells you it is a Pieris shrub that comes from Japan.