About 7 species of broad-leaved evergreen shrubs, small trees, and vines. New growth often tinged red or bronze. Leaves alternate, entire or serrate, leathery. Flowers often in erect or drooping clusters, corolla white, pitcher-shaped, 5-lobed, 10 stamens. Native to eastern U.S., West Indies, eastern Asia and Himalaya.
Pieris: from Pierides a name of the Muses, the nine sister goddesses of Greek mythology presiding over the arts and sciences.
Pronunciation:
pi-ER-is, PEE-e-ris
Family:
Ericaceae