zoom_in Click to enlarge

Potentilla fruticosa (Shrubby Cinquefoil)

▲ ▼

description Potentilla fruticosa (Shrubby Cinquefoil) Overview

Potentilla fruticosa, often treated botanically as Dasiphora fruticosa, is a deciduous shrub in the rose family with a broad circumboreal distribution. Its small, five-petaled flowers are commonly yellow, although cultivated forms also produce white, orange, or pink blooms. The species tolerates cold conditions and is widely planted as an ornamental because flowering can continue through much of the summer.

help Potentilla fruticosa (Shrubby Cinquefoil) FAQ

Why is shrubby cinquefoil sometimes sold as Dasiphora instead of Potentilla?

Botanists reclassified the shrub into the genus Dasiphora based on its distinct woody habit and genetics, so Dasiphora fruticosa is now the accepted scientific name. Nurseries and older gardening books still frequently use Potentilla fruticosa, so both labels point to the same plant.

How long does Potentilla fruticosa bloom?

It's one of the longest-blooming landscape shrubs, typically flowering from early summer right up to frost. The small yellow, white, orange, or pink flowers just keep coming, especially if you deadhead lightly.

How cold-hardy is shrubby cinquefoil?

Extremely cold-hardy for a flowering shrub, commonly rated to USDA zone 2, which is why it's a staple in Canadian and northern-tier US gardens. Its circumboreal native range reflects that tolerance for severe winters.

Do deer eat Potentilla fruticosa?

It's generally considered deer-resistant, as deer usually pass it over in favor of tastier plants. That, plus its tolerance for poor soil and drought once established, makes it a common low-maintenance choice.

swap_horiz

Looking for Potentilla fruticosa (Shrubby Cinquefoil) alternatives? Compare top competitors ranked & scored

arrow_forward