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Similar but less problematic plants:
Rosa banksiae Flower and Leaves
Native alternative(s) for Kerria japonica:
Hydrangea arborescens Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle'
Itea virginica Itea virginica
Kalmia latifolia Kalmia latifolia
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Lagerstroemia indica Full shrub in bloom
Quercus nigra Quercus nigra
Salvia rosmarinus Rosmarinus officinalis

Kerria Kerria japonica

Phonetic Spelling
KER-ee-a juh-PON-ih-kuh
Description

Japanese kerria is a graceful, spring flowering, deciduous shrub in the Rosaceae (rose) family that grows natively from central and southern China to southern Korea and Japan. It has upright, arching, slender stems that form a broad, dense, twiggy mass, reaching 7 feet tall and up to 9 feet wide. Single rose-like, yellow flowers bloom in spring. The genus name honors William Kerr, a 19th century Kew gardener and collector, who collected in China, Java and the Philippines. The species name means of Japan. Plants in this genus are sometimes called Easter rose because the flowers typically bloom around Easter.

Japanese kerria is meant for the shade garden, as its flowers fade in full sun. This plant requires loamy, well-drained soil of medium fertilization. Avoid high fertilization, because it becomes weedy, and heavy clay soil. The plant is considered a well behaved ornamental; however, suckers can be a problem and should be removed. This plant also tends to become leggy and therefore requires heavy pruning as necessary. You can cut the stems to the ground if the plant needs renovation. Note that the plant blooms on the previous year's wood.

Place Japanese kerria as an accent plant or specimen in a butterfly or children’s garden or plant and prune several as a hedge. It also works well in a drought tolerant garden, as it is resistant to drought as well as deer. Japanese kerria has been introduced to the United States and can be found in the Piedmont of North Carolina, although it is relatively rare.

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 to 1.5 inches
  • Flowers are five-petaled or double and spherical

The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a fact sheet on common pests and diseases.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: 

No serious problems. This plant occasionally suffers from blights, cankers, leaf spots, and root rot. Twig and leaf blight can be caused by the fungus Blumeriella kerriae, which is often the result of wet weather conditions.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Albescens'
    Creamy yellow, 2 inch flowers, irregularly shaped petals. Four to five feet tall. Yellow fall foliage.
  • 'Golden Guinea'
    Tall (6 to 8 feet), single yellow flowers to 2 1/2 inches, heavily veined leaves.
  • 'Picta'
    Low-growing, broadly rounded, slowly spreading. Dense, twiggy habit.
  • 'Plena'
  • 'Pleniflora'
    Double flowers, ball-shaped, 1 to 2 inch diameter. Upright, 8 to 10 feet high.
  • 'Simplex'
    Profuse, yellow, five-petaled flowers. Arching bright green to yellowish stems retain color in winter.
'Albescens', 'Golden Guinea', 'Picta', 'Plena', 'Pleniflora', 'Simplex'
Tags:
#deciduous#yellow flowers#deciduous shrub#shade garden#well-drained soil#deer resistant#children's garden#playground plant#pollinator plant#fantz#loamy soils tolerant#partial shade tolerant#pruning tolerant#weed#cpp
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Albescens'
    Creamy yellow, 2 inch flowers, irregularly shaped petals. Four to five feet tall. Yellow fall foliage.
  • 'Golden Guinea'
    Tall (6 to 8 feet), single yellow flowers to 2 1/2 inches, heavily veined leaves.
  • 'Picta'
    Low-growing, broadly rounded, slowly spreading. Dense, twiggy habit.
  • 'Plena'
  • 'Pleniflora'
    Double flowers, ball-shaped, 1 to 2 inch diameter. Upright, 8 to 10 feet high.
  • 'Simplex'
    Profuse, yellow, five-petaled flowers. Arching bright green to yellowish stems retain color in winter.
'Albescens', 'Golden Guinea', 'Picta', 'Plena', 'Pleniflora', 'Simplex'
Tags:
#deciduous#yellow flowers#deciduous shrub#shade garden#well-drained soil#deer resistant#children's garden#playground plant#pollinator plant#fantz#loamy soils tolerant#partial shade tolerant#pruning tolerant#weed#cpp
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Kerria
    Species:
    japonica
    Family:
    Rosaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Central & Southern China to Southern Korea and Japan
    Distribution:
    Introduced to Eastern Canada and United States (Nova Scotia to South Carolina).
    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.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Perennial
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Arching
    Dense
    Erect
    Multi-stemmed
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Fine
  • 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
    NC Region:
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Achene
  • 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 April and May 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 inches in size.
  • 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 little over 1" wide.
  • 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.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Recreational Play Area
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Children's Garden
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Hedge
    Mass Planting
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Hummingbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought
    Problems:
    Frequent Disease Problems
    Frequent Insect Problems
    Weedy