Fetterbush

Andromeda floribunda Pursh, Bot. Mag. 38: plate 1566. 1813; Portuna floribunda (Pursh) Nuttall

Shrubs, to 2 m, with ± erect branches; twigs multicellular stipitate-glandular-hairy and conspicuously strigose (hairs elongate, stiff, long-celled, eglandular), otherwise sparsely to densely unicellular-hairy. Stems terete to slightly angled. Leaf blades elliptic to ovate, (1.5-)3-7.2 × (0.6-)1-2.8 cm, base rounded to widely cuneate, margins serrulate (each tooth associated with elongate hair), plane, apex acute. Inflorescences terminal panicles, sometimes with proximalmost lateral branches arising from axils of distalmost leaves; bracteoles near or slightly proximal to middle of pedicel. Flowers: calyx lobes 2-4 × 1-1.7 mm; corolla urceolate, strongly 5-ridged, 4-7 × 3-5.5 mm; filaments straight, 2-3 mm, hairy; style slightly sunken into ovary apex. Capsules subglobose or globose to ovoid, 4-6 × 4-6 mm, glabrous; placentae subapical. Seeds ellipsoidal to ± rectangular and flattened, with 2 inconspicuous wings; testa cells elongate. 2n = 24.

Flowering early spring-spring. Montane thickets and balds, oak, pine, and/or hemlock forests; 500-1800 m; Ga., N.C., Tenn., Va., W.Va.

Individuals of Pieris floribunda are beautiful, cold-hardy shrubs and are frequently cultivated as ornamentals. The species is sometimes confused with the eastern Asian P. japonica D. Don ex G. Don and P. formosa D. Don. Pieris japonica is commonly cultivated and may be distinguished from P. floribunda by its lack of stiff, multicellular, elongate hairs on stems and leaf margins, and pseudoverticillate leaves with margins nearly entire to clearly toothed.