Kerria Japonica
/ˈkɛr.i.ə dʒəˈpɒn.ɪ.kə/noun
A deciduous flowering shrub in the rose family, native to China and Japan and known for its bright yellow flowers.
Did you know?The genus Kerria honors William Kerr, the Scottish gardener who introduced the plant to Britain, while japonica means “of Japan,” even though the species is also native to China.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Chinese botanical tradition
Chinese
棣棠 (dìtáng)
“The traditional Chinese name for the shrub, referring to Kerria japonica.”
1753
Latin
Corchorus japonicus
“Linnaeus originally classified the plant in the genus Corchorus and gave it the species name japonicus, meaning “Japanese.””
Early 19th Century
Botanical Latin
Kerria
“A new genus name honoring William Kerr, a Scottish gardener and plant collector associated with Kew Gardens.”
1818
Botanical Latin
Kerria japonica
“Augustin Pyramus de Candolle established the modern genus combination, with japonica adjusted to agree grammatically with the feminine genus name Kerria.”
19th Century
English
Japanese rose
“A common English name reflecting the plant’s East Asian origin and rose-like, yellow-petaled flowers.”
Modern English
English
Kerria japonica
“The accepted scientific name for the ornamental shrub commonly called Japanese rose or Japanese kerria.”