Species Japanese kerria
Yellow flower with olive leaves and green stems.

Japanese kerria

Kerria japonica 'Pleniflora'

Japanese kerria (Kerria japonica 'Pleniflora') is an attractive evergreen shrub with a bushy, upright habit. It reaches a height of around 5-6 feet and width of 4-5 feet. The glossy, green foliage is contrasted nicely against its clusters of small, white flowers with yellow stamens, that appear in early spring. It is an ideal shrub for adding a burst of bright colour in springtime or to light up a partly shady area. Pruning will help to maintain its shape and encourage compact growth. Hardy and easy to maintain, it will happily grow in most garden conditions.

Cycle:

Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Layering Propagation,Cutting,Division,Grafting Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

4 - 9

Flowers:

Yellow Flowers

Sun:

Part shade

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

High

Maintenance:

Moderate

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Water Japanese kerria (Kerria japonica 'Pleniflora') once every 5-7 days, providing enough water to keep the soil evenly moist throughout the root zone. During periods of prolonged hot weather, water slightly more often to ensure that the soil does not dry out. Avoid overwatering, as this can cause root rot.

sunlight

Japanese kerria (Kerria japonica 'Pleniflora') should be grown in an area with partial shade or dappled sunlight. This plant prefers morning sun and afternoon shade, so it should receive at least 4 to 5 hours of direct sunlight each day. If the plant is located in an area that is too sunny, it may become stressed and develop yellow foliage. It should be protected from direct, hot afternoon sun and wind.

pruning

Japanese kerria should be pruned for both rejuvenation and to maintain a desired shape. Generally, pruning should take place in late winter or early spring, around February or March, when new growth has yet to appear. However, if the plant is already beginning to flower, wait until blooming has finished to do most of the pruning. When it comes to pruning Japanese kerria, the idea is to remove dead, diseased, and damaged wood and thin out overgrown stems. Lightly shape the shrub by cutting back the longest, overreaching branches. Do not cut into the green wood that still has leaves as this will create more work as more heads will form. Prune out any crossed branches, sharp angles, and suckers (offshoots from the rootstock). If needed, you can also prune out up to 1 third of the overall plant, leaving the healthy ones. It is best to avoid pruning any more than 1-third of the plant at once.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Kerria japonica 'Pleniflora' typically starts flowering in April.

Hardiness Map