Potentilla argentea
silvery cinquefoil
Overview
Potentilla argentea is a low, spreading perennial in the rose family, growing 4-16 inches (10-40 cm) tall from a woody base with slender, often reddish stems. The palmate leaves are divided into five narrow, deeply toothed leaflets that are green above and densely white-woolly beneath, giving the plant a silvery cast. The leaf margins roll under, showing the pale underside. From early to late summer it bears loose clusters of small yellow flowers about 0.3-0.5 inch (8-12 mm) across, each with five notched petals around a cluster of stamens. The flowers are followed by small dry seeds. Potentilla argentea grows on dry, sandy, and gravelly ground, in pastures, roadsides, and disturbed open sites, and tolerates poor soil and drought. It is native to Eurasia and naturalized across much of North America, where it can spread on thin soils. The deep root and low rosette let it persist in trampled and grazed ground. Plants stay compact in lean soil but grow looser and floppier where the ground is rich.
Native Range
Potentilla argentea is native to Europe and temperate Asia. It has naturalized widely across North America, where it grows on dry, sandy roadsides and disturbed ground.Suggested Uses
Grown in dry gardens, gravel plantings, rockeries, and wildflower areas on poor soil where little else competes. The flowers draw small bees and other insects. Its low, drought-tolerant habit suits banks, path edges, and sites that stay dry and sunny.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height4" - 1'4"
Width/Spread8" - 1'4"
Bloom Information
Flowering runs through summer, mainly June to August, with small yellow flowers opening a few at a time in branched clusters. Each flower lasts a day or two. Bloom continues longest on plants in lean, sunny sites.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
green above, silvery-white beneathGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 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
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grow in full sun on dry, well-drained, sandy, or gravelly soil. Established plants are drought tolerant and need no supplemental water in most climates. Rich, moist soil and shade produce loose, floppy growth and fewer flowers. The plant self-seeds on bare ground and can spread in gravel and thin turf. It needs no feeding and little care beyond removing seed heads where spread is unwanted. Hard winters cause no harm, since the rootstock is fully hardy.Pruning
No formal pruning is needed. Spent flowering stems are sheared off in late summer to tidy the plant and limit self-seeding. Old growth is cleared in early spring before the new rosette expands.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing