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© Steven Guillemet, some rights reserved (CC-BY-SA) · GBIF
Potentilla fruticosa
Shrubby Cinquefoil
Circumpolar — northern and montane North America (including Pacific Northwest subalpine), northern Europe, northern Asia, and the Himalayas; open rocky sites and mountain meadows
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Key Features
Attracts PollinatorsAttracts ButterfliesDeer ResistantDrought TolerantContainer Friendly
Native to North America
Maintenancevery low
Overview
Potentilla fruticosa is a mounding deciduous shrub growing 2-4 feet (0.6-1.2 m) tall and 2-4 feet (0.6-1.2 m) wide. Bright yellow saucer-shaped 5-petaled flowers, 0.75-1.5 inches (2-4 cm), appear from May through September — a 20-week bloom season that is longer than on most cultivated woody shrubs. Pinnately compound gray-green silky leaves carry 5 leaflets (cinquefoil = five leaves), each 0.5-1 inch (13-25 mm). Cultivars range from white to cream to pink to orange to deep red flowers. The species is reclassified as Dasiphora fruticosa by some authorities. Native range is circumpolar — North America, Europe, Asia, and the Himalayas. Cold hardiness extends to USDA zone 2 (approximately -50°F / -45°C), exceeding that of most cultivated flowering shrubs. Tolerates almost any well-drained soil, including clay, sand, rocky, alkaline, and chalky substrates. Drought-tolerant once established. Pink and red cultivars fade in heat — cooler climates yield more vivid pink/red tones. Without periodic renewal pruning, plants become woody and sparse at the base. Deer-resistant. Non-toxic.
Native Range
Circumpolar — northern and montane North America (including Pacific Northwest subalpine), northern Europe, northern Asia, and the Himalayas. Found on open rocky sites and mountain meadows.Suggested Uses
Grown in mixed borders, foundation plantings, mass plantings, slopes, and in containers of at least 5 gallons (19 L), spaced 2-4 feet (0.6-1.2 m) apart. Long bloom season (20 weeks). Extreme cold hardiness. Drought-tolerant. Deer-resistant. Non-toxic. Hardy in zones 2-9.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height2' - 4'
Width/Spread2' - 4'
Reaches mature size in approximately 4 years
Colors
Bloom Information
Late spring through fall (May-September). Yellow (species) or white, pink, orange, red (cultivars) 5-petaled saucer-shaped flowers, 0.75-1.5 inches (2-4 cm). 20 weeks. Bee- and butterfly-visited.Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
bright yellow in the species; cultivars range from white to cream to pink to orange to deep red; 5-petaled saucer-shaped, 0.75-1.5 inches (2-4 cm), in clusters at branch tips; May-September; the 20-week bloom season is longer than on most woody shrubsFoliage Description
gray-green, silky-hairy, pinnately compound with 5 leaflets (cinquefoil = five leaves); each leaflet 0.5-1 inch (13-25 mm); turns yellow in fallGrowing 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
Site in full sun (6-12 hours direct sun) in almost any well-drained soil with a pH of 5.0-8.0 (clay, sand, rocky, alkaline, and chalky substrates are tolerated). Drought-tolerant once established. Cold hardiness extends to zone 2 (approximately -50°F / -45°C). Pink and red cultivars fade in heat. Prune in early spring (March-April). Deer-resistant. Non-toxic. Hardy in zones 2-9.Pruning
Prune in early spring (March-April) before new growth — remove approximately one-third of the oldest stems at the base each year to maintain a fresh dense form. Renovation pruning to 6 inches (15 cm) is tolerated. Without periodic renewal, plants become woody and sparse at the base.Pruning Schedule
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early spring
Maintenance Level
very lowContainer Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 5 gallons