Japanese Rose 'Pleniflora'

This showy spring shrub is surprisingly tough, trouble free of pests/disease and hugely rewarding. The arching branches are covered in pom pom like golden blooms from early spring for a month or more. It adds a gorgeous, informal whimsical feel when left to its own devices. Each bloom is around 3cm across.

It is one of the first flowering shrubs to bloom and continues with a succession of fully double blooms for many weeks. The foliage then begins the cover the branches with bright green, serrated leaves. It remains lush and handsome throughout summer before turning butter yellow falling in autumn to reveal the nice green branch structure.

Kerria japonica ‘Pleniflora’ holds the prestigious RHS Award of Garden Merit so you know it will look good and not need much effort from you.

Traditionally a woodland plant, it is suitable for sun or shade, but in warmer climes it is ideal to have some protection from the harsh sun. In shaded conditions it tends to stretch and you will have a taller plant, where in sun it remains more contained. They are easily pruned.

Plant in moderately fertile to humus rich, well drained soil, they really aren’t overly fussy as long as there is drainage. Water to establish, it takes plants 4-6 weeks of regular watering for their roots to penetrate the surrounding soil and access its moisture and nutrients. Dry tolerant once established, even looking good in dry shade.

This suckering shrub flowers on last year’s wood so is best pruned after flowering. You can either remove tall stems from the base to maintain height or chop where desired. Unwanted suckers are easily removed/shared with a spade. Rabbits and deer don’t seem to bother them.