# Kerria

Kerria is a sunny shrub with bright yellow flowers. It blooms in spring and brings joy to every garden!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Wooded areas
- **Also known as:** Japanese Kerria, Kerria japonica

![Kerria](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771425758/objects/5076.jpg)

## Appearance

The Kerria has vibrant green, arching stems that often zig-zag, bearing bright yellow flowers that can be single like buttercups or double like small pom-poms. Its delicate leaves are sharply toothed and a fresh green, providing a cheerful splash of color in spring.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Rosales
- **Family:** Rosaceae
- **Genus:** Kerria

## Interesting facts

- It's the only species in its entire genus, making it truly one of a kind!
- Its zigzagging stems make it super easy to identify, even without flowers!
- Some Kerria flowers have so many petals they look like fluffy yellow pom-poms!
- The plant is named after William Kerr, a famous Scottish plant collector.

## Special abilities

- **Spring Glow:** Kerria's bright yellow flowers bloom early in spring, attracting vital pollinators when few other food sources are available.
- **Zigzag Navigator:** Kerria has distinctive zigzagging stems, a unique growth pattern helping it spread and fill space efficiently in its habitat.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 100-300 cm
- **Spread:** 100-200 cm
- **Flower Size:** 3-5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Spring to early Summer, often reblooming
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Attracted to its early spring blooms
- **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — Visits its bright yellow flowers for nectar
- **Pollinates:** Ashy mining bee (*Andrena scotica*) — Visits early spring flowers for pollen

## Traits

- [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
- [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground.
- [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.

## Collections

- [Grasses](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/grasses)
- [Grasses, Shrubs & Bushes](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/grasses-shrubs-and-bushes)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Explore with care and ask an adult if you’re unsure what to do.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Kerria?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Kerria?

100-300 cm

### How wide does Kerria spread?

100-200 cm

### How big are the flowers on Kerria?

3-5 cm

### When does Kerria bloom?

Spring to early Summer, often reblooming

### Is Kerria edible?

No

### Is Kerria toxic?

None

### What is Kerria's lifecycle?

Perennial

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Kerria: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/kerria)