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Kerria japonica Deserves a Second Look
By Tim
Wood, All
rights reserved ©
Spring Meadow Nursery, Inc.
Kerria
japonica,
the Japanese Yellow
Rose has been sold for years, most commonly by low end mail order
companies. For whatever reason, wholesale growers and garden centers
rarely include this plant in their mix, and I wonder why?
The more I see of this plant and what it can do in the landscape,
the more I feel it deserves a second look. Please join me.
Kerria
japonica is a hardy (Zone 5) deciduous shrub that matures at 3 to 5 feet
in height. It's a dense mounded plant with numerous slender, zigzagging
branches that emerge at ground level.
The beauty of Kerria is found in its flowers, stems and foliage. The bright yellow flowers are noticeably reminiscent of an
old fashioned rose with its 5 petals. The flowers clearly make this plant
a member of the Rosaceae family. In
early spring, before the leaves emerge, the numerous yellow flowers create
a colorful show. As an added benefit, Kerria will often rebloom off and on
all summer long. The effect
is beautiful and rewarding. Kerria
is also blessed with attractive ornamental stems.
From autumn to spring, its bright kelly green stems create a
wonderful, fresh impression. Having visited the Cincinnati Zoo and
Botanical Gardens in early spring a few years back, I distinctly remember
big green drifts of Kerria. I
was surprised and delighted to see it used throughout their beautifully
landscaped grounds. Around every corner we were greeted by a mass of bright
green. This unique
combination of color and zigzagging lines create a lasting impression.
You
also have to appreciate the clean and simple foliage of Kerria. The leaves
appear birch-like at first glance with its narrow triangular shape, but
unlike birch, its leaves are brighter, doubly serrated, and display a
pronounced puckering between the leaf veins.
Always clean and green the foliage is a distinctive asset. Culture
This
is not a fussy plant that is difficult to grow or manage. Quite the
contrary, Kerria is happy in most any reasonable well drained soil. It
requires little fertility, and seems to flower best if neglected. Unlike
other members of the rose family, Kerria has no serious insect of disease
problems. The remarkable thing about this is that it thrives when grown in
partially shaded to fully shaded locations. Few plants flower this well in
shade! Full sun is also an
option, but it does present a few problems. The flowers do not hold up as
well and it can show some stem die-back if exposed to winter sun. Neither
of these problems is severe, but both can distract from the beauty of the
plant. It should be noted
that this plant dislikes heavy, poorly drained soil.
It will languish and grow smaller by the year. As far as ongoing
maintenance, I personally feel this plant benefits from an occasional hard
pruning. Cutting the plant to the ground produce a fuller plant, brighter
stems and improved flowering.
The Cultivars
The most popular cultivar of Kerria is the old fashioned double
flowered form, Kerria j. 'Pleniflora'.
Its yellow button-like flowers resembles a chrysanthemum, and at
peak bloom they polka dot the plant to create a distinct look.
Kerria 'Pleniflora is not one of my favorite plants. To me it looks
too contrived. I much prefer the simplicity of the single flowered forms.
Two of the best single flowered cultivars are 'Albaflora' and 'Golden
Guinea'. I can detect only slight and inconsequential differences between
these two plants. Golden Guinea' describes the size and color of the bloom. No the name Guinea
does not refer to a bird or some exotic country, it refers to a large gold
coin. 'Albiflora' is an exquisite creamy white flowered single. It is
perfect for lighting up a shady area. (see picture above).
For those of you who need even more excitement in your life,
several variegated selections are available. The best variegated type is
called Kerria japonica 'Picta'. Not a great name, but a very good plant. Its leaves are
graced with a creamy white margin that is not at all offensive like some
variegated plants. The
overall effect is very nice, and a decent specimen garners much attention.
It does have its shortcomings. It can be slow growing when young making it
difficult to produce especially when compared to the species.
It also has a tendency to throw an occasional green shoot, which
must be removed. This is a simple task and most gardeners would gladly pay
this price to have such an interesting plant.
I have seen another variegated clone under the name of 'Kinkan',
more correctly called 'Auro-vittata'. This is worthless selection best
left to the most ardent collector or relegated to the botanic garden.
This "beauty" has green and yellow striped stems that
tend to revert at the speed of sound.
Both of these variegated cultivars have small single yellow
flowers. Kerria is a beautiful plant with year long interest. If you are lucky enough to find Golden Guinea or Shannon in the trade, give it a try. Plant it in mass in a shady location and I think you'll be pleasantly surprised how nicely this plant performs. Very few flowering shrubs perform so well in the shade and you'll love the winter effect provided by its bright green stems. And when it blooms and reblooms you are certain to ask yourself, you've never before given this plant a second look.
Did you enjoy this article? Interested in learning about cool new plants? Check out the PLANT HUNTER - Tim Wood's new plant blog. You can subscribe to the PLANT HUNTER and add it to your MyYahoo, Google, AOL page or add a Feeds to your browser by clicking one of the logos below! Anytime the blog is updated it will be available on your homepage with just a click of your mouse.
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