Japanese Kerria
Kerria japonica 'Pleniflora'
A charming spring bloomer that produces abundant golden-yellow pompom flowers on bright green arching stems that remain attractive even in winter. This easy-care shrub tolerates shade better than most flowering shrubs and provides months of cheerful color in woodland gardens. The double-flowered variety creates an impressive display that rivals forsythia but with a more refined appearance.
Harvest
N/Ad
Days to harvest
Sun
Partial shade to full sun
Zones
4–9
USDA hardiness
Height
3-7 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Japanese Kerria in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 shrub →Zone Map
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Japanese Kerria · Zones 4–9
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
Complete Growing Guide
Soil: Loam (Silt). Drainage: Good Drainage, Occasionally Dry. Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 7 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 6 ft. 0 in. - 9 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 3 feet-6 feet, 6-feet-12 feet. Growth rate: Medium. Maintenance: Medium. Propagation: Division, Seed, Stem Cutting. Regions: Piedmont.
Harvesting
Type: Achene.
Bloom time: Spring
History & Origin
Origin: Central & Southern China to Southern Korea and Japan
Advantages
- +Disease resistance: Deer, Drought
- +Attracts: Deer resistant, drought tolerant
- +Wildlife value: Flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Hosta
Thrives in similar partial shade conditions and provides contrasting foliage texture
Astilbe
Enjoys same moist, well-draining soil and adds complementary spring blooms
Heuchera
Tolerates similar growing conditions and provides colorful ground-level foliage
Japanese Painted Fern
Thrives in partial shade with similar moisture needs and adds silvery texture contrast
Rhododendron
Prefers acidic soil like Kerria and blooms at different times extending garden interest
Camellia
Shares preference for acidic, well-draining soil and partial shade conditions
Pieris
Enjoys similar acidic soil conditions and provides complementary evergreen structure
Ajuga
Forms attractive ground cover in partial shade with similar water requirements
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone toxin that can stunt growth and damage Kerria's root system
Eucalyptus
Releases allelopathic compounds that inhibit growth of nearby shrubs
Fennel
Secretes growth-inhibiting chemicals that can negatively affect shrub development
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Generally healthy with good disease resistance
Common Pests
Japanese beetles, scale insects, aphids
Diseases
Leaf spot, twig blight (occasional)