Woody > Potentilla > Potentilla fruticosa > Potentilla fruticosa
Potentilla fruticosa
Bush Cinquefoil
Mike's
Opinion
"
A shrub for any landscape, used in massing and grouping and is tolerant of a wide range of soil types. Also flowers continually through spring to autumn. There are a wide variety of cultivars available with my personal preference towards the white flowered cultivars.
Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)
"
| Family |
| Rosaceae |
| Genus |
| Potentilla |
| Species |
| fruticosa |
| Category |
| Woody |
| Type |
| Shrub (deciduous) |
| Pronunciation |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 2–6 (7) |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| 2–8 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| -45C |
| Temperature (°F) |
| -50F |
| Height |
| 0.3–1.1 m |
| Spread |
| 1–1.2 m |
Photographs
Cultivars
click to expand
.jpg "Potentilla fruticosa Purdomii_wk (1).jpg")
.jpg "potentilla Elizabeth_wk (2).jpg")
Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| Dense, small bushy shrub with exfoliating bark. Flowers have five petals and bloom continuously from May to September. |
| Cultivation |
| Extremely hardy, tolerating conditions ranging from sandy, clay, or very alkaline soils and exposed sites to wet or dry conditions. Prefers well-drained soil and full sun but will grow in partial or light shade. |
| Shape |
| Bushy, rounded shrub with slender but dense upright stems. |
| Growth |
| Medium |
| ID Characteristic |
| Palmate tomentose leaves with 3-7 leaflets and small brightly coloured yellow flowers adorn this mounding shrub. The stems are shiny brown and the foliage is dense. |
| Pests |
| Rare; occasional issues with mildew and fungal leaf spot, usually resulting from over fertilization. Dry spells can increase susceptibility to spider mites. |
| Habitat |
| Native to the temperate northern hemisphere; mountainous Asia, Europe, and North America. |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| Green and tomentose on new growth. Brown and somewhat exfoliant on old growth. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description |
| Small brown tomentose buds scaled, approximately 6 mm in length. |
| Leaf Description |
| Spring leaves are silky grey green turning dark green when mature. Leaflets are narrow and elliptical in shape; arranged palmately. Leaf size ranges from 1.2-2.5 cm long. |
| Flower Description |
| Abundant bright, cheery, yellow, saucer shaped, flowers with five petals. Cultivars produce other colours including shades of white, pink, red, and orange. Size ranges from 2.5-3.8 cm across. |
| Fruit Description |
| Very small achene approximately 1 mm in length, brown-purple in colour. |
| Colour Description |
| Unimpressive autumn colour ranging from yellow to brown. Green in spring and summer. |
| Texture Description |
| Fine in leaf; medium-fine in winter; medium-fine in winter; tomentose. |
| Notable Specimens |
| The French River District, Ontario. Gull Lake Wetland areas of Manitoba. |
| Propagation |
| Easy; can be grown from seed or cuttings. Seed propagation should be done in autumn; plant in summer. Softwood cuttings are best rooted under mist using 1000 ppm of IBA. |
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