Japanese kerria is a fine-textured, deciduous shrub with thin attractive stems that provide subtle ornamental interest in winter and yellow flowers in the spring. This shrub is also known as the “Easter Rose” as it often is in flower every year around Easter, and is also a member of the Rose family. It has an arching habit that becomes rounded with age. Kerria matures at a height of 5 feet and grows to 6 feet wide. There are two variants: one has pom-pom type flowers and the other had single flowers. This is a shrub that not only grows and thrives in full shade, but also flowers. It is a great choice for a difficult shady spot that calls for large shrub.

Kerria will tolerate a variety of soils, but prefers well-drained, slightly acidic soils. It is hardy in zones 4 to 9, and is heat and drought tolerant. To add to its desirability, it has few disease or pest problems. It is tolerant of heavy pruning, which helps rejuvenate older plants. In the spring, the foliage emerges as a bright medium green color that changes to dark green as the season progresses. In the fall the color turns chartreuse and persists through November. From April through May, kerria boasts bright yellow flowers.

This shrub is a good choice for a woodland garden and makes for great winter interest when planted against stone or a wall of red or white brick. Kerria is also excellent for naturalizing an area and preventing soil erosion. If there is any drawback to this plant, it is a tendency to spread moderately via underground suckers.

At the JC Ralston Arboretum in Raleigh you can see Kerria japonica ‘Honshu’ and ‘Chiba Gold.’ ‘Honshu’ has larger, 2-inch, single, sunny yellow flowers with petals that overlap and give a fuller effect. The shrub has the same arching habit as winter jasmine, but is slightly smaller, growing up to 5 feet tall but only 3 feet wide. Kerria japonica ‘Chiba Gold’ is a newly introduced gold-leaf cultivar that originated in Japan. It stands 3 to 6 feet tall and has a colonizing habit.

Amy-Lynn Albertson