Rhodotypos, Genus, spp., Multiple species,
- Genus
- Multiple species
jetbead
Overview
Rhodotypos is a monotypic genus in the rose family (Rosaceae), represented by the single deciduous shrub R. scandens, native to eastern Asia. Plants reach 3-6 ft (0.9-1.8 m) tall and 4-9 ft (1.2-2.7 m) wide, forming an arching, loosely branched habit. The opposite, doubly serrate leaves are 2-4 in (5-10 cm) long, deep green, and prominently veined, turning yellow-green before dropping in autumn. Flowers open singly at the branch tips from late spring, each 1.5-2 in (4-5 cm) across with four white petals around a green center. Pollinated flowers develop into clusters of up to four glossy black drupes about 0.3 in (8 mm) wide, which persist on bare stems through winter. The genus adapts to a broad range of soils and light levels, and in parts of the eastern United States R. scandens has escaped cultivation and naturalized along woodland edges. Stems root where they touch soil, allowing colonies to spread laterally. The fruits contain cyanogenic compounds and are not eaten. Growth is rapid in youth and slows as the framework matures.
Native Range
Rhodotypos is native to central and eastern China and Japan, where R. scandens grows in mountain thickets and forest margins. It has naturalized in parts of the eastern and central United States.Suggested Uses
Used in informal shrub borders, woodland-edge plantings, and as a deciduous screen in sun or shade. The persistent black fruits and green winter stems add cool-season interest in mixed plantings.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height3' - 6'
Width/Spread4' - 9'
Colors
Bloom Information
Flowering begins in late spring, generally May, with scattered blooms into early summer. Each white flower lasts several days, and a plant carries a succession of single blooms rather than a massed display. Black fruits follow and remain visible into winter.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
deep greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 2-8 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Rhodotypos grows in full sun to part shade and adapts to clay, loam, or sandy soils of average fertility. Established plants tolerate drought, compacted urban soils, and short periods of waterlogging. A soil pH between about 5.5 and 7.5 suits the genus. Few serious insect or disease problems affect it. Stems layer where they contact the ground and seedlings germinate freely, so colonies extend laterally over time. Light renewal pruning maintains a tidy framework.Pruning
Pruning is done after flowering, taking the oldest stems to the base to renew the framework. Flowers form on the current season growth, so even hard cuts in late winter do not remove the coming bloom.Pruning Schedule
Prune: June
summer
