Carolina Nature

Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of North Carolina

Mountain Andromeda, Mountain Fetterbush (Pieris floribunda)

Plantae>Magnoliophyta>Magnoliopsida>Ericales>Ericaceae>Pieris floribunda (Pursh) Bentham & Hooker f.

Mountain Andromeda, Mountain Fetterbush (Pieris floribunda)

Mountain Fetterbush is a medium-sized evergreen shrub in the same family as Mountain-Laurel, which it resembles when not in bloom.

Pilot Mountain, Surry Co., NC 4/12/09.

Mountain Andromeda, Mountain Fetterbush (Pieris floribunda)

Mountain Fetterbush has a fairly small range, primarily in the southern Appalachians. In North Carolina, it is found at higher elevations in the central Mountains and on a few monadnock mountains in the Piedmont. Like its larger and more common relative Mountain-Laurel (Kalmia latifolia), the leaves of Pieris are very poisonous.

Pilot Mountain, Surry Co., NC 5/16/10.

Mountain Andromeda, Mountain Fetterbush (Pieris floribunda)

Note the tan-colored hairs. The branches, petioles, and leaf margins are hairy, unlike the smooth leaves and branches of Mountain-Laurel.

Pilot Mountain, Surry Co., NC 5/16/10.

Mountain Andromeda, Mountain Fetterbush (Pieris floribunda) leaves

The evergreen leaves are finely toothed.

Pilot Mountain, Surry Co., NC 4/12/09.

Mountain Andromeda, Mountain Fetterbush (Pieris floribunda) leaves

The leaves are paler yellow-green beneath.

Pilot Mountain, Surry Co., NC 4/12/09.

Mountain Andromeda, Mountain Fetterbush (Pieris floribunda) flowers

Numerous small scentless white flowers are borne on terminal racemes.

Pilot Mountain, Surry Co., NC 4/12/09.

Mountain Andromeda, Mountain Fetterbush (Pieris floribunda) flowers

The flowers are triangular, with broad bases and narrow openings, which point down.

Pilot Mountain, Surry Co., NC 4/12/09.

Mountain Andromeda, Mountain Fetterbush (Pieris floribunda) flowers

Pilot Mountain, Surry Co., NC 4/12/09.

Mountain Andromeda, Mountain Fetterbush (Pieris floribunda) flowers

Pilot Mountain, Surry Co., NC 4/12/09.

Mountain Andromeda, Mountain Fetterbush (Pieris floribunda) flowers

The flowers have prominent "ribs".

Pilot Mountain, Surry Co., NC 4/12/09.

Mountain Andromeda, Mountain Fetterbush (Pieris floribunda)

By May the flowers are replaced by capsules.

Pilot Mountain, Surry Co., NC 5/16/10.

Mountain Andromeda, Mountain Fetterbush (Pieris floribunda)

Ripening capsules.

Pilot Mountain, Surry Co., NC 5/16/10.

Mountain Andromeda, Mountain Fetterbush (Pieris floribunda)

The dry capsules split open when fully ripe. These are from the previous year.

Pilot Mountain, Surry Co., NC 5/16/10.

Mountain Andromeda, Mountain Fetterbush (Pieris floribunda) bark

The bark is somewhat shreddy, like that of Mountain-Laurel.

Pilot Mountain, Surry Co., NC 4/12/09.

Mountain Andromeda, Mountain Fetterbush (Pieris floribunda)

Undulating branching pattern.

Pilot Mountain, Surry Co., NC 5/16/10.

More information:
Poisonous Plants of North Carolina
USDA PLANTS database
University of Connecticut
Virginia Tech Dendrology

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