As a gift we received a Katsura Pieris Japonica a couple of weeks ago. The new growth was a beautiful burgundy color and the flowers were just going by. As of today, that new growth is turning brown and dying. The green leaves underneath look pretty good. Should we cut back the dying new growth? We made sure to keep it watered. Any suggestion is greatly appreciated. applew8@aol.com
Blame the cold. The plants was likely grown somewhere warmer than here like Connecticut, and had put on its spring growth there. It got hit by a frost or freeze and the new growth got nipped. Trim away the damaged foliage. It will be fine and, once it is acclimated to this area, it won’t suffer this damage again. Keep it watered especially as the summer heat arrives.