| PRONUNCIATION |
CARE-ee-uh ja-PONN-nih-kuh |
| COMMON NAME |
Japanese Kerria shrub |
| SYNONYMS |
|
| DERIVATION |
japonica = of or from Japan; variegata = variegated |
| FAMILY |
Rosaceae - Rose |
| TYPE |
graceful, arching, deciduous shrub with a dense, twiggy habit |
| USES |
accent plant in shade; massing in woodland areas or in the shrub border; foundation plantings |
| FLOWER |
single or double; single flowers are graceful and dainty, doubles are showy but heavy- looking; five-petalled |
| COLOUR |
bright yellow |
| FOLIAGE |
toothed, narrow, to 4" long, triangular, on arching branches |
| COLOUR |
bright green, turning bright yellow in autumn; a variegated-leaf form is also available (see photo at top) |
| STEMS |
arching, bright green to yellowish-green, retaining colour for winter interest |
| HARDINESS |
Zone 4 |
| EXPOSURE |
partial to full shade (may become leggy in too much shade; flowers may bleach out in too much sun) |
| SOIL |
average, infertile to moderately fertile, loamy, moist, well-drained |
| WATER |
medium moisture |
| HEIGHT |
5-8 feet |
| SPREAD |
6-9 feet |
| BLOOM |
April to early May (some sources say mid-spring into June) and sporadically thereafter |
| STAKING |
no |
| DEADHEAD |
blooms on old wood, so pruning must be done immediately after flowering |
| PROBLEMS |
none serious: leaf spot, canker, blight or root rot are possible; can sucker heavily and become brambly unless thinned regularly |
| AFTERCARE |
thin out old shoots after flowering (for renewal pruning, remove old stems to base);
may also require light pruning in spring only to remove winter-killed stems |
| FALL CARE |
none |
| PROPAGATION |
division: easy;
softwood cuttings: take in July, root in humid, shady conditions;
hardwood cuttings: take in late fall, burying in soil over winter; set in garden in early spring |
| SEED CULTURE |
|
| FERTILIZER |
occasionally and lightly; too much will encourage rampant growth |
| MULCH |
|
| CULTIVARS |
'Albiflora': white;
'Golden Guinea': golden-yellow, large single flowers;
'Picta': single flowers, leaves have white margins;
'Pleniflora': double flowers;
'Shannon': single yellow;
'Superba': single yellow, slightly hardier than the double-flowered |
| CO-BLOOMERS |
COMPANIONS |
BLUE PERENNIALS 