Kerria japonica
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- KER-ee-a juh-PON-ih-kuh
- Description
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Japanese Kerria is a leggy, open, broad-rounded deciduous shrub that grows up to 7'. This plant has upright, arching, slender stems that form a broad, dense, twiggy mass. Japanese Kerria is meant for the shade garden - flowers fade in full sun. This plant requires loamy, well-drained soil of medium fertilization. Avoid high fertilization, because it becomes weedy. This plant requires heavy pruning as necessary. This plant has pest and disease problems.
Quick ID Hints:
- Deciduous shrub with cane-like growth
- Leaves are plicate. Stems are green, zig-zag, and shiny.
- Solitary, terminal bright yellow flowers that are 1" - 11⁄2"
- Flowers are 5-petaled or double and spherical
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- K. japonica 'Pleniflora'
Has double flowers that are nearly ball-shaped and 1"-2" in diameter. - 'Plena'
- K. japonica 'Pleniflora'
- K. japonica 'Pleniflora', 'Plena'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- K. japonica 'Pleniflora'
Has double flowers that are nearly ball-shaped and 1"-2" in diameter. - 'Plena'
- K. japonica 'Pleniflora'
- K. japonica 'Pleniflora', 'Plena'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Kerria
- Species:
- japonica
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central & Southern China to Southern Korea and Japan
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer resistant, drought tolerant
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 7 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 9 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Dense
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- 6-feet-12 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Saucer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are bright yellow in spring and are at the terminal end of short leafy stems of previous year's growth. There are usually 5 petals, but there is a double cultivar. Flowers are 2" in size.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Doubly Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are alternate, simple, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, cuneate, double serrate, and plicate. They are bright green and glabrous above and are paler and slightly pubescent below on the veins. In fall, some leaves turn yellow. They are 1 1/2"-4" long and a littler over 1" wide.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Zig Zags
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Stems are slender, green, zig-zag, glabrous, glossy, supple, cane-like, suckering, and are branching in second season of growth.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Recreational Play Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Children's Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Problems:
- Frequent Disease Problems
- Frequent Insect Problems
- Weedy
