Dasiphora fruticosa, potentilla, cinquefoil
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Deciduous Shrubs

Dasiphora fruticosa

potentilla, cinquefoil

Rosaceae

Circumpolar: North America, Europe, and Asia in arctic, subarctic, and alpine habitats

At a Glance

TypeShrub
HabitMounding
FoliageDeciduous
Height2-4 feet (60 cm-1.2 m)
Width3-5 feet (90 cm-1.5 m)
Maturity4 years

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

2 - 7
Zone 2
Zone 3
Zone 4
Zone 5
Zone 6
Zone 7
These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.
Frost Tolerancehardy

Key Features

Attracts Pollinators
Attracts Butterflies
Deer Resistant
Drought Tolerant
Container Friendly
Native to North America
Maintenancevery low

Overview

Dasiphora fruticosa (shrubby cinquefoil, potentilla), formerly and still widely sold as Potentilla fruticosa, is a small to medium deciduous shrub native to cool and cold regions across the Northern Hemisphere — one of the most widely distributed woody plants on earth, occurring from arctic tundra and alpine meadows across North America, Europe, and Asia. In gardens it forms a mounded, densely twiggy shrub typically 2–4 feet (60 cm–1.2 m) tall and 3–5 feet (90 cm–1.5 m) wide. The foliage is composed of pinnately compound leaves with 3–7 small, narrow, silky-hairy leaflets 0.3–0.75 inch (8–19 mm) long, giving a fine-textured, somewhat ferny appearance. The extraordinary ornamental quality of this plant is its bloom duration: five-petaled, saucer-shaped flowers 1 inch (2.5 cm) across begin in June and continue, remarkably, through October and often until the first hard frost — a longer continuous bloom period than virtually any other cold-hardy woody shrub. The species flowers are clear yellow with numerous golden stamens, but cultivars extend the palette to white, cream, pale pink, deep pink, and orange, with varying vigor and sun requirements for best color. Extremely cold-hardy to USDA Zone 2. Deer-resistant, drought-tolerant, and pollution-tolerant. The genus name change from Potentilla to Dasiphora is accepted by current taxonomic authorities but the old name Potentilla fruticosa remains in widespread nursery use; both names refer to the same plant.

Native Range

Circumpolar native of the Northern Hemisphere: found across North America from Alaska and northern Canada south through the Rocky Mountains, across Europe and Asia in arctic, subarctic, and alpine habitats. Grows naturally in meadows, tundra, rocky slopes, and streambanks at high latitudes and elevations.

Suggested Uses

One of the most versatile flowering shrubs for cold-climate and challenging-site applications — a reliable performer where many ornamentals fail. The June through October bloom duration is a practical asset for extending garden color deep into fall. Excellent for mass planting on slopes, highway medians, and commercial landscapes where low maintenance, drought tolerance, and deer resistance are priorities. Works well in mixed borders as a long-blooming filler and in foundation plantings. Cultivar selection for color: 'Abbotswood' (white, vigorous, excellent) and species yellow forms are most reliable in full sun; pink and orange cultivars benefit from afternoon shade in hot exposures. Combines well with ornamental grasses and late-season perennials.

How to Identify

Identified by the combination of pinnately compound leaves with 3–7 small, narrow, silky-hairy leaflets and saucer-shaped five-petaled flowers 1 inch (2.5 cm) across with prominent golden stamens, produced continuously from June through October. The densely twiggy, mounded habit with shredding reddish-brown bark on older stems is characteristic. Widely sold under both Dasiphora fruticosa and Potentilla fruticosa — both names apply to the same plant.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2' - 4'
Width/Spread3' - 5'

Reaches mature size in approximately 4 years

Colors

Flower Colors

yellow
white
pink
orange

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

yellow

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~20 weeks
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SummerFall
Blooms continuously from June through October and often until the first hard frost — one of the longest bloom seasons of any cold-hardy deciduous shrub. Five-petaled, saucer-shaped flowers 1 inch (2.5 cm) across with numerous golden stamens are produced without interruption throughout summer and fall. The species has clear yellow flowers; cultivars range from white ('Abbotswood') through cream, pale pink ('Princess'), deeper pink ('Pink Beauty'), and orange-yellow ('Tangerine'). Orange and pink cultivars fade in intense summer sun — part shade improves color retention for those selections.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

clear yellow (species); cultivars range white through cream, pink, orange

Foliage Description

gray-green, silky-hairy; fine-textured compound foliage

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Full Sun
Partial Shade
Requires 4-12 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
loamsandclayrockychalk
Drainage
well drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

3-5 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Among the easiest and most adaptable of flowering shrubs. Grows in full sun to part shade in virtually any well-drained soil — poor, sandy, gravelly, clay, and alkaline conditions are all tolerated. Best flowering in full sun; part shade is acceptable but reduces bloom quantity. Excellent cold hardiness (Zone 2) and drought tolerance once established. Deer resistant. Pollution tolerant — suitable for urban plantings. No serious pest or disease problems. In the PNW's cool maritime climate, shrubby cinquefoil thrives and blooms prolifically through the mild autumn. Orange and pink cultivars produce their best color in light shade — intense sun in hot-summer areas can bleach the flowers. Yellow and white cultivars perform equally well in full sun.

Pruning

Renew every 3–4 years by cutting the entire plant back to 6–12 inches (15–30 cm) in late winter (February through March) — it regenerates vigorously and blooms prolifically on new growth the same season. Annual light maintenance: cut back by one-third in late winter to maintain a compact, well-branched form and maximize blooming stems. Remove any dead wood at the base. Do not prune in fall — winter stem structure provides some ornamental value and protects the crown.

Pruning Schedule

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early spring

Maintenance Level

very low

Container Growing

✓ Suitable for container growing

Minimum container size: 5 gallons

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Non-toxic