Kerria japonica (L.) DC.

Japanese Rose

Shrub

Perennial

Vascular

Japanese Rose is an introduced deciduous shrub in the Rose family (Rosaceae). It is native to China and Japan. In Alabama it has been collected as a rare escape (or more commonly persisting from cultivation) in widely scattered locations. Japanese Rose grows along roadsides banks and around old homesites. It is a deciduous colonial shrub reaching 6-8 feet in height. The stems are flexuous, green in color, glabrous, and root when in contact with the soil. Leaves are alternate, petiolate, triangular-ovate or ovate in outline, with doubly serrate margins. The leaves are glabrous (or nearly so) above and pubescent below. Flowers are solitary and terminal on short lateral branches. They are produced before or with the new leaves. The flowers have 5 green sepals, 5 yellow-orange petals, and numerous stamens. The fruit is an achene. The cultivar 'Pleniflora' with numerous petals is the commonly cultivated variety in Alabama and is sterile. Japanese Rose is commonly available from nurseries or can be grown from cuttings or rooted shoots. It prefers a rich, well-draining soil in full to partial sun.—A. Diamond.

The only documented occurrence of this species in Alabama (JSU130630) is the cultivar "Pleniflora' which is a doubled form with many petals and the loss of fertile reproductive parts.

Not Native

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