Kerria (plant)

Kerria
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Rosales
Family:	Rosaceae
Subfamily:	Rosoideae or Spiraeoideae[1]
Tribe:	Kerrieae
Genus:	Kerria
Species:	K. japonica
Binomial name
Kerria japonica (L.) DC.

Kerria japonica, the sole species in the genus Kerria, is a deciduous shrub in the rose family Rosaceae, native to eastern Asia, in China, Japan and Korea. It is named after William Kerr, who introduced the cultivar 'Pleniflora'. The scientific genus name is also used as a common name Kerria.

It grows to 1–3 m tall, with weak arching stems often scrambling over other vegetation or rocks. The leaves are alternate, simple, 4–7 cm long, with a sharply serrated margin. The flowers are bright yellow, with five petals. The fruit is a dry single-seeded achene 5 mm long.

Cultivation and uses

Kerria is a very popular ornamental plant in gardens, often using the double-flowered cultivar 'Pleniflora'. Another common name for it is the Japanese Yellow Rose.

Images

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  'Pleniflora'

Notes

1. ^ Potter, D., et al. (2007). Phylogeny and classification of Rosaceae. Plant Systematics and Evolution. 266(1–2): 5–43.