Pieris phillyreifolia

Common Names

Climbing Fetterbush, Fetterbush, Climbing Pieris, Vine-Wicky

Summary

Climbing fetterbush, Pieris phillyreifolia, is an evergreen Ericaceae that can grow as a woody vine up to about 30 feet or as a shrub about 3 feet tall, native to the Southeastern United States, it climbs by flattened rhizomes under the bark of host trees such as pond cypress (Taxodium ascendens) or Atlantic white cedar, and is not parasitic, distinctive features include glossy, leathery evergreen leaves and axillary racemes of small white urn-shaped flowers, with fruit produced as a capsule, its typical habitats include swamps, moist pinelands, cypress swamps, and sandhills with acidic soils, cultivation favors partial to full shade and sandy, acidic soils (pH 4.5 to 6.0) with tolerable moisture but not flooding, USDA zones 8A–9A, not tolerant of salt inundation or salty spray, propagation appears limited, seed requires 90 days of cold stratification at 4°C and there are no established propagation protocols, in landscapes it can be trained on an arbor or trellis or pruned into a shrub, attracts early spring pollinators, and is available from nurseries specializing in native Florida plants.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

36-360 inches

Spread

15-30 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 8A-9A

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally partial shade.

Soil Type

Acidic, well-drained soil (pH 4.5–6.0)

Soil Drainage

Moist but well-drained

Soil pH

4.5-6.0, acidic soil (low pH)

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Time

Spring

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

No fall foliage color; evergreen.

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

12–24 inches per year (on average)

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Layering

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators