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[cathtcrt]

Can anyone tell me why my Pieris lost its leaves? It looked a bit sad last year, but this year, although it has lovely clumps of flowers, there are no leaves below the flowers. The stems look very woody and there are no signs of any new shoots coming. I have checked for lace bug and there are no signs. Any ideas please?

[Nate from N&G]

That’s strange. Flowers are a good sign, for sure, but leaves should come at some point. Have you tried fertilizer that contains lots of nitrogen?

You mention there aren’t any new  stems. Try pruning off the tips of some of the longer branches to trigger side growth.

You could also try to take cuttings from the younger portions of the “woody stems”. If leaves develop well on your cuttings, it means something is eating them on the tree. Perhaps caterpillars or slugs are eating up the leaves?

If none of the above work, I’d be inclined to think that the tree is nearing its end. How old is it? Perhaps it’s doing its “last bloom”, I hope not but I’ve seen it happen in other species (though not Pieris).

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Nature & Garden moderator.
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“Winter reveals the strength inside… of those who dare go out!”

[cathtcrt]

Thank you. I will try these things. It must be 15-20 years old so maybe it is at it’s life’s end. I never really thought that they only lasted a certain number of years, but I suppose they must have a lifespan.

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