Flowers A-Z: K is for Kerria

When we moved into our house, it was quite apparent that the "landscaping" had no rhyme or reason.  Most of the random plants here either died or have been given away.  The kerria is one of the few that has stuck around, and I've come to love this lovely plant!

It is a deciduous perennial that makes pretty yellow flowers in the spring, and, if we're lucky, again in the late summer.  One of its nicest features, though, is the bright green stems.  In the winter, when all the leaves have fallen, the kerria stands out against an otherwise dreary background.  Although plant books say it likes full sun, I've found it does best here with a bit of shade; otherwise, the leaves get fried, which is always a sad thing.