Pieris japonica, the Japanese andromeda or Japanese pieris, is a plant in the heather family, Ericaceae.
It is native to eastern China, Taiwan,
and Japan where it grows in mountain thickets.
Pieris
japonica is a shrub or
a small tree (1–4 metres or 3.3–13.1 feet tall, occasionally up to 10 metres)
with alternate, simple leaves on
brittle stems. The flowers are white and borne in early spring. The plant is
poisonous if consumed by people or animals. The
name "andromeda" originated from an earlier genus name for the plant.
The flower blooms and lasts usually for two or three weeks.(quote from
Wikipedia)