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shrub

Picta Japanese Kerria*

Kerria japonica 'Picta'

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Picta Japanese Kerria (Kerria japonica 'Picta') at Kennedy's Country Gardens

Picta Japanese Kerria flowers

Picta Japanese Kerria flowers

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Picta Japanese Kerria (Kerria japonica 'Picta') at Kennedy's Country Gardens

Picta Japanese Kerria foliage

Picta Japanese Kerria foliage

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Picta Japanese Kerria (Kerria japonica 'Picta') at Kennedy's Country Gardens

Picta Japanese Kerria

Picta Japanese Kerria

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

* This is a "special order" plant - contact store for details

Height:  4 feet

Spread:  4 feet

Sunlight:  full sun  partial shade  full shade 

Hardiness Zone:  4b

Description:

A colorful spring blooming shrub featuring bright yellow flowers on thin, colorful stems and variegated bright green leaves; spreads by suckering to form a natural mass; use in groupings in partial shade in the garden for color contrast

Ornamental Features

Picta Japanese Kerria features showy gold flowers along the branches from early to mid spring. It has attractive white-variegated green foliage. The narrow leaves are highly ornamental and turn lemon yellow in fall. The smooth bark and lime green branches add an interesting dimension to the landscape.

Landscape Attributes

Picta Japanese Kerria is a dense multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. It lends an extremely fine and delicate texture to the landscape composition which can make it a great accent feature on this basis alone.

This is a high maintenance shrub that will require regular care and upkeep, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

  • Suckering

Picta Japanese Kerria is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Mass Planting
  • General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Picta Japanese Kerria will grow to be about 4 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 4 feet. It tends to be a little leggy, with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more.

This shrub performs well in both full sun and full shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.

 

* This is a "special order" plant - contact store for details

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight
Characteristics
Massing  Garden 
Applications
Flowers  Foliage Color  Texture  Bark  Winter Value 
Ornamental Features