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Pieridopsis virgo

(Andromeda)

Overview

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A selection of var. yakushimanum that is receiving increased attention and cultivation. It is a cold-hardy, compact plant with tight leaves that resemble a rhododendron. The white flowers are profuse and appear later in Spring than the species.

Critically Endangered

Threat status

Interesting Facts

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Common Names

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Click on the language to view common names.

Common Names in English:

Andromeda, Cabbage White, Cavatine Andromeda, Flaming Silver Andromeda, Imported Cabbageworm, Japanese Pieris, Japanese-Andromeda, Large White, Lily of the Valley Shrub, Lily-Of-The-Valley-Bush, Margined White, Mustard White, Small Cabbage White, Small White, West Virginia White

Common Names in Japanese:

Asebi

Description

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Family Nymphalidae

'The Nymphalidae are members of the Superfamily Papilionoidea, the true butterflies. Distributed worldwide, butterflies of this family are especially rich in the tropics. They are highly variable, and there are more species in this family than in any other. Adults vary in size from small to large, and their front legs are reduced, unable to be used for walking. Wing shape is also highly variable: some species have irregular margins (anglewings and commas), and others have long taillike projections (daggerwings). Browns, oranges, yellows, and blacks are frequent colors, while iridescent colors such as purples and blues are rare. Adults of some groups are the longest-lived butterflies, surviving 6-11 months. Adult feeding behavior depends on the species, where some groups primarily seek flower nectar while others only feed on sap flows , rotting fruit, dung, or animal carcasses. Males exhibit perching and patrolling behaviors when seeking mates. Egg-laying varies widely, as some species lay eggs in clustsers, others in columns, and others singly. Caterpillar appearance and behavior vary widely. Brushfoots overwinter as larvae or adults.

'[1]

Physical Description

ID Features: Foliage is whorls at the shoot tip. Leaves evergreen with shallow teeth on the margin. P. floribunda. has cilate (hair-like) margins and Kalmia latifolia has entire margins.. Pendulous clusters or white urn-shaped flowers in late winter through. early spring. New growth reddish. Persistent brown capsules. Lacebug injury often visible.

Habit: Evergreen . • Growth Form: Multiple Stem • Shape and Orientation: Erect

Flowers: Profuse small, white, urn-shaped flowers; 0.25" long. Held in pendulous, 3" to 6" long clusters . Blooms early, in March and April. Flowers last 2 to 3 weeks. Flowers are weakly fragrant. Naked flower buds are present through the fall and winter. Winter flower buds are reddish. • Bloom Period: January, February, March, December. • Flower Color: near white, white • Flower Conspicuous: Yes

Seeds: Seed Spread Rate: None • Fruit: Small, rounded , dehiscent capsules that persist. Not ornamentally attractive and considered by some to be undesirable. • Fruit/Seed Color: Brown • Fruit/Seed Conspicuous: No • Cold Stratification Required: No

Foliage: Foliage Color: Dark Green • Summer foliage: Leaves are glossy green. Moderate-sized, 1.5" to 3.5" long and 0.5" to 0.75" wide. Leaves are widest at or above the middle . Leaf margins with shallow serrations . Foliage clustered in "whorls" at the tips . New stems are green and glabrous . Emerging foliage is an attractive reddish color. • Fall foliage: Evergreen , no fall color develops. • Foliage Porosity Summer: Moderate • Foliage Porosity Winter: Moderate • Foliage Texture: Medium • Fall Conspicuous: Yes • Leaf Retention: Yes

Color:

Wings are translucent , whitish, with no yellowish tint underneath. Underside of hindwings with blurry brown or pale gray scaling along veins.

Upperside of wings white; forewing with black tip . Two submarginal black spots in female, one in male. Underside of hindwing and forewing apex evenly yellow-green or gray-green. Spring and fall short-day form is smaller, less yellow, with reduced black areas.

Summer form is pure white above and below; spring form has black-tipped upper forewing. Underside of hindwing and apex of forewing have veins edged with yellow-green or gray-green.

Like a very large version of the Cabbage White.

Size/Age/Growth

Wing span : 1 3/4 - 2 1/8 inches (4.5 - 5.3 cm).

Wing span: 1 3/4 - 2 1/4 inches (4.5 - 5.8 cm).

Wing span: 1 1/2 - 2 1/4 inches (3.8 - 5.7 cm).

Wing span: 2 1/2 - 2 3/4 inches (6-7 cm). Active Growth Period: Spring and Summer • Growth Rate: Slow. • Mature Height (feet): 12.0 • Maximum Height at 20 Years (feet): 8 • Size: 4-6' tall. • Vegetative Spread Rate: Slow • Lifespan: Lifespan

Landscaping

Landscape Uses: Foundation plant. Shrub borders . Incorporated with other evergreens . Useful in shaded spots. Very deer resistant. Early bloom time is an asset. • Liabilities: Lacebug can cause significant stippling on foliage , making it yellow and. unsightly, especially in hot dry sites. Phytophthora root rot.

Habitat

Moist deciduous woodlands or mixed woods .

Almost any type of open space including weedy areas, gardens, roadsides, cities, and suburbs.

Open forests and fields , deciduous woods, bogs , streamsides.

Forests, meadows, deciduous woods, streamsides.

Zone 5 and warmer, protected parts of zone 4, although some cold injury expected.

Almost any type of open space especially vegetable gardens, roadsides, cities, and suburbs.

Typically found at an altitude of 0 to 5,031 meters (0 to 16,506 feet).[2]

Biology

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Diet

Caterpillar hosts: Toothworts (Dentaria diphylla and D. laciniata) in the mustard (Brassicaceae) family . Adult food: Flower nectar from toothworts, spring beauty, violets, and other plants .

Caterpillar hosts: Many plants in the mustard (Brassicaceae) family and occasionally some in the caper family (Capparidaceae). Adult food: Flower nectar from a very wide array of plants including mustards, dandelion, red clover, asters, and mints.

Caterpillar hosts: Various plants in the mustard (Brassicaceae) family. Adult food: Flower nectar from mustard family and other plants.

Caterpillar hosts: Various native plants in the mustard (Brassicaceae) family. Adult food: Nectar from flowers of the mustard family and other plants.

Caterpillar hosts: Cabbages, Brussel-sprouts, nasturtium. Adult food: Flower nectar from a very wide array of plants including thistles and butterfly bush .

Reproduction

Males patrol slowly to locate females. Eggs are laid singly on undersides of host plant leaves. Chrysalids hibernate on stems or plant litter under the plant.

Males patrol for females. Females lay single eggs on undersides of host leaves. Chrysalids hibernate.

Males patrol during the day for receptive females. Eggs are laid singly on underside of host plant leaves. Caterpillars feed on leaves. Chrysalis hibernates.

Males patrol for receptive females. Eggs are laid singly on underside of host plant leaves on which the caterpillars feed. Chrysalis hibernates.

Females lay masses of yellow eggs on undersides of host leaves. Caterpillar is gray-green green with black smudges ands short white hairs . Chrysalis is gray green with small yellow and black marks .

Coppice Potential: No • Progagated by Bulbs: No • Propagated by Bare Root: Yes • Propagated by Container: Yes • Propagated by Corms: No • Propagated by Cuttings: Yes • Propagated by Seed: No • Propagated by Sod: No • Propagated by Sprigs: No • Propagated by Tubers: No • Fruit/Seed Period Begin: Spring • Fruit/Seed Period End: Summer • Fruit/Seed Persistence: No

Growth

Culture: Space 4-6' apart.

Soil: Adapted to Medium Textured: Adapted to Medium Textured Soils • Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils: No • Anaerobic Tolerance: None • Salinity Tolerance: None • CaCO3 Tolerance: None • Minimum pH: 6.1 • Maximum pH: 6.5 • Fertility Requirement: Medium

Sunlight: Sun Exposure: Light Shade. • Shade Tolerance: Tolerant

Moisture: Drought Tolerance: Low • Minimum Precipitation: 35 • Maximum Precipitation: 55 • Moisture Use: Medium

Temperature: Minimum Temperature (F): 2 • Minimum Frost Free Days: 200 • Cold Hardiness: 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b. (map)

Behavior

Flight: In the North, one flight in May; in the South, one flight from April-May.

Flight: Two to three in northern part of range ; 7-8 in the south. It is usually the first butterfly to emerge in spring .

Flight: Two flights from April-September in mid-continent; one flight from June-July in the north.

Flight: Two flights from February-September in the West.

Flight: Two to three flights in Europe from April to October.

Taxonomy

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Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name .

Similar Species

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West Virginia Whites lack the black spots in the wings that are found in the more common and widespread Cabbage White.

Members of the genus Pieridopsis

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 1 species and subspecies in this genus:

P. virgo (Andromeda)

More Info

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Further Reading

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Notes

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Contributors

Identifiers

Footnotes

  1. http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/taxonomy?f=18&sci=Nymphalidae&com=Brush-footed Butterflies [back]
  2. Mean = 324.300 meters (1,063.976 feet), Standard Deviation = 890.960 based on 6,711 observations. Altitude information for each observation from British Oceanographic Data Centre. [back]
Last Revised: 7/22/2012