Rhodotypos spp.

jetbead

SunFull Sun – Part Shade – Full Shade

HardinessZones 4–8

Overview

Rhodotypos spp. 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 spp. 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

Recognized by paired, opposite leaves with sharply double-toothed margins and impressed veins on slender arching stems. The four-petaled white flowers separate it from the five-petaled yellow flowers of the related Kerria japonica. Each spent flower leaves up to four hard, shining black bead-like fruits at the stem tip.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height3' - 6'

Width/Spread4' - 9'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~4 weeks

Spring Summer

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 green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade SunFull Shade

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

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

clay loam sand

Drainageaverage

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

3-5 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Rhodotypos spp. 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

summer

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Toxic to pets and humans

Shrub