Japanese Andromeda

Arriving in Tokyo when masses of azaleas had begun to wither on bushes, we were free to look for other flowers in bloom. Early May is the peak of the flowering season, so we didn’t have to look hard. The walk to the Toshogu shrine inside Ueno Park is lined with low trees almost hidden by hanging white flowers. These Japanese andromeda (Pieris japonica) begin to flower in March and reach their peak flowering at the end of the season in May. The genus Pieris belongs to the family Ericaceae. Unlike the edible members of the family, cranberry and blueberry for example, plants in this genus are full of phytochemicals which are not exactly friendly to us. Knowing that one has to avoid eating all Andromeda is easy. So much easier than to learn the ways of their more complex cousins, the Rhododendron, some of which are edible and others poisonous.