Does it need pruning?

Pruning immediately after flowering helps keep the shrub tidy and encourages new growth.

Can it grow in full sun?

It prefers partial shade, as hot afternoon sun can fade the yellow flowers.

Plant guide

Japanese kerria.

Kerria japonica

Pronounced KEER-ee-uh juh-PON-ih-kuh

Also known as Japan Globeflower, Japanese Kerria, Japanese Rose, Japanese globeflower, Japanese-rose, Jew's-mallow, Kerria

The Japanese kerria is a charming deciduous shrub known for its bright, golden yellow flowers that bloom in spring. It has a graceful, arching habit that looks lovely in a woodland garden or as a border plant. You will love how its green stems add a bit of color to your garden even in the winter months.

Another photo of Japanese kerria — Photo by Xueli Xie (CC BY) via iNaturalist

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Deciduous shrub
Light: Partial shade to full sun
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 7 to 14 days
Mature size: 6 to 8 feet
Growth rate: Medium
Hardiness: USDA 4 to 9
Bloom time: Mid to late spring

Care

Plant this shrub in well-draining soil and prune it right after it finishes flowering to encourage new growth. Watch for wilting leaves, which may indicate the soil has dried out too much. It is quite hardy, but it appreciates a spot protected from harsh afternoon sun.

Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged, especially during the first year of growth.
Feeding: Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring as new growth begins.
Pruning: Prune back old or flowered stems immediately after the spring bloom to maintain shape.
Repotting: If growing in a container, move to a larger pot every few years when the roots become crowded.
Soil: Well-draining, fertile soil
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.5
Temperature: -25 to 35°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 15 to 20 years.
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of drainage holes.
Water draining through the pot too quickly.
Stunted growth during the active season.

Safety

People: The plant is generally considered non toxic to humans.
Children: The stems are somewhat brittle, but there are no significant ingestion risks for children.
Contact allergens: No specific skin irritants are known.
Airborne allergens: Pollen may cause mild reactions in sensitive individuals during the spring.
Edibility: This plant is not considered edible and should not be consumed.

How to identify it

Bright yellow, rose-like flowers
Arching, bright green stems
Alternate, serrated, lance-shaped leaves
Deciduous shrub growth habit

Height: 1 to 2.5m
Spread: 1.5 to 3m
Leaves: bright green, deciduous
Flowers: yellow, 3 to 5cm

Problems to watch for

Twig BlightCommon
AphidsUncommon
CankerUncommon
Leaf SpotUncommon

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: cuttings, division
When to plant: spring, autumn
Overwintering: No special winter care is needed as it is quite hardy. You can mulch around the base to protect the roots if you live in a very cold climate.
In containers: It can be grown in large containers, but it prefers being planted in the ground for long term health.

Softwood cuttings

Take 10 cm cuttings in early summer.
Remove lower leaves.
Place in moist potting mix and keep humid until rooted.

Pair this shrub with shade loving perennials to create a lush, low maintenance woodland border.

Grows well with

Hosta · They share similar light requirements and provide a nice foliage contrast.
Bleeding Heart · Both plants bloom in spring and appreciate the same woodland conditions.

Similar species

Forsythia · Both are spring flowering shrubs with yellow blooms.

Science

Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Kerria
Order: Rosales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: China, Japan, and the Korean Peninsula.
Conservation: This species is not of conservation concern.

It naturally grows in thickets and along forest edges where it benefits from dappled light.

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: ornamental shrub, woodland garden, foundation planting

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 1/9
Soil reaction: 5/9
Light: 5/9
Temperature: 5/9
Moisture: 5/9
Nutrients: 5/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Does it need pruning?: Pruning immediately after flowering helps keep the shrub tidy and encourages new growth.
Can it grow in full sun?: It prefers partial shade, as hot afternoon sun can fade the yellow flowers.

Where the name comes from

The genus is named after William Kerr, a Scottish gardener who introduced the plant to the West. The specific epithet refers to its native range in Japan.

Good to know

It is the only species in its genus.
The bright green stems remain colorful even in winter.
It thrives in partial shade where other shrubs might struggle.

Keep your japanese kerria growing

This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.