Japonica Picta ‘Gypsy Rose’

Do you like variegated foliage on plants, especially those that tolerate shade?   Kerria japonica ‘Picta’ Variegated “Gypsy Rose” is the one for you.  A beautiful, wispy carefree shrub that will add color and interest to that semi-shady place in your garden.  Delicate arching stems have small gray-green leaves margined with a light cream color.  Blooms are single, five-petaled, rose-like flowers that are a bright chartreuse/yellow color.  Bloom time is most profuse in April and May but they are known to bloom sporadically until first frost.  The slender, arching, yellowish-green stems remain an attractive green all winter.  Plants in the genus Kerria are sometimes called Easter rose because the flowers typically bloom around Easter time and resemble roses.  

Grow this amazing shrub as an individual plant in a mixed border or in mass in that special area

where they can offer color all season long.  This japonica variety varies from the all green japonica in that it is much smaller, growing to a height of 2 to 3 feet and spread of 2 to 4 feet.  If it tends to ‘sprawl’ too much, prune short in the spring after blooming to maintain shape and size.  This plant blooms on previous years growth so don’t prune too late in the season.  No serious insect or disease problems have been reported.

Hardy in zones 4-9, plant this wonderful shrub in part shade or full shade for best color as  blooms tend to fade out in full sun.  It is tolerant of drought, heavy shade, clay soil, wet or dry soil and deer.  What more could you ask???