Japanese Rose
Kerria japonica
Also listed as Corchorus japonicus, Rubus japonicus
Also known as Japanese Kerria, Japanese Globeflower, Jew's-mallow
Climate Match for your location
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Japanese Rose is a deciduous shrub prized for its bright yellow single or double flowers that appear in spring. It spreads via underground rhizomes and makes an excellent ornamental for woodland gardens and mixed borders.
Why grow it
Kerria japonica offers reliable spring color and shade tolerance that many ornamental shrubs lack, making it useful for underplanting beneath deciduous trees. Its preference for moist, well-draining soil and moderate fertility aligns with typical woodland garden conditions, and it requires less pruning than many flowering shrubs to maintain shape. The double-flowered cultivars provide longer-lasting blooms than single-flowered forms, though the species type establishes more quickly.
Watch out for
This shrub performs best with consistent moisture during establishment and can struggle in very dry locations or heavy clay without soil amendment. New shoots may be slow to emerge in spring, which can make growers uncertain about plant survival before growth begins. Crowded plantings may reduce air circulation and increase susceptibility to fungal issues in humid climates.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Rosaceae
Native Range
Japan, China
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Notable Cultivars
Pleniflora is the most common cultivar, featuring showy double golden-yellow flowers; Picta is notable for its variegated white-edged leaves, though it flowers less prolifically than Pleniflora.
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Japanese Rose is a deciduous shrub prized for its bright yellow single or double flowers that appear in spring. It spreads via underground rhizomes and makes an excellent ornamental for woodland gardens and mixed borders.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Japanese Rose grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Kerria japonica offers reliable spring color and shade tolerance that many ornamental shrubs lack, making it useful for underplanting beneath deciduous trees. Its preference for moist, well-draining soil and moderate fertility aligns with typical woodland garden conditions, and it requires less pruning than many flowering shrubs to maintain shape. The double-flowered cultivars provide longer-lasting blooms than single-flowered forms, though the species type establishes more quickly.
Watch out for
This shrub performs best with consistent moisture during establishment and can struggle in very dry locations or heavy clay without soil amendment. New shoots may be slow to emerge in spring, which can make growers uncertain about plant survival before growth begins. Crowded plantings may reduce air circulation and increase susceptibility to fungal issues in humid climates.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Rosaceae
Native Range
Japan, China
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Similar shrubs you might consider:
Enter your ZIP code to see top native species and strong climate fits for you.
Companion Planting
Plants well with
Notable Cultivars
Pleniflora is the most common cultivar, featuring showy double golden-yellow flowers; Picta is notable for its variegated white-edged leaves, though it flowers less prolifically than Pleniflora.