Northwest Blooms · Shrubs
Kerria japonica 'Pleniflora'
Double Japanese Kerria
- Family
- Rosaceae
- Height
- 6 to 10 feet
- Width
- 6 to 10 feet
- Flower color
- Bright golden yellow fully double pompon shaped flowers
- Foliage color
- Bright green sharply serrated lance shaped leaves often turning yellow in fall
- Bloom time
- Mid to late spring, often April to May
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade
- Water
- Average; tolerates short dry periods once established
- Maintenance
- Low; prune immediately after flowering to remove older canes and maintain a dense arching form
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 4 to 9
- Wildlife
- Bees and other pollinating insects
About this plant
Kerria japonica 'Pleniflora' produces bright golden-yellow pompon flowers in mid to late spring, each bloom formed with many layered petals that create a rounded, rosette-like shape along the slender stems. The blossoms appear among fresh green leaves that unfold in spring with lightly serrated edges and a soft texture. Arching green stems remain visible through winter, adding subtle color and structure after the foliage falls.
This cultivar traces its heritage to Kerria japonica native to China and Japan. In gardens it brings seasonal interest to borders, woodland plantings, and informal hedges where the cheerful spring flowers and green winter stems provide changing color.
Works well in
Sun Gardens · Borders · Hedging · Pollinator Gardens
Companion plants
Tickseed · Russian sage · Potentilla · Fountain grass · Basket-of-gold · Lily of the Nile
Design tip
Use ‘Pleniflora’ where its arching stems can contribute to the garden beyond the flowering season. Bright golden-yellow spring flowers provide a strong burst of color, while the green stems remain visible after the foliage drops, adding subtle structure and color through winter.
