Potentilla norvegica
rough cinquefoil
Circumboreal - North America and Eurasia
SunFull Sun – Part Shade
Overview
Potentilla norvegica, rough cinquefoil, is an annual, biennial, or short-lived perennial in the rose family, growing as an erect, branched, hairy plant 8-32 inches (20-80 cm) tall. Unlike most cinquefoils, its leaves are divided into three (not five) toothed leaflets, each 0.5-2 inches (1.5-5 cm) long and covered with coarse hairs. Small yellow flowers about 0.2-0.4 inch (5-10 mm) across appear from late spring through fall, with five notched petals that are shorter than the surrounding green sepals, so the bloom looks more green-and-yellow than showy. The flowers give way to clusters of tiny dry seeds that the plant produces in large numbers. It grows on disturbed, open ground such as fields, roadsides, gardens, and waste places across much of the Northern Hemisphere, and is widely treated as a weed. The plant tolerates poor, dry, and compacted soils and establishes quickly from seed, but it is coarse, weedy, and short-lived, and it self-sows aggressively. It is most often noticed as a volunteer in cultivated ground rather than grown on purpose.
Native Range
Potentilla norvegica occurs throughout the temperate Northern Hemisphere and is native to both North America and Eurasia. It grows in open, disturbed habitats such as fields, clearings, roadsides, shorelines, and cultivated or waste ground.Suggested Uses
Potentilla norvegica is seldom planted deliberately and appears mainly as a volunteer on disturbed ground. Where it occurs, its flowers draw small bees and flies, and its seeds feed birds.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height8" - 2'8"
Width/Spread6" - 1'
Bloom Information
Small yellow flowers open from late spring through fall, often June to October, over a long, staggered season. Each flower is short-lived, but the plant keeps producing new ones as it branches. Abundant dry seed follows and ripens through summer and autumn.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-10 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
Water & Climate
Water Needs
Drought Tolerance
Drought tolerant when established
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Potentilla norvegica needs no special care and grows in full sun to part shade in almost any soil, from sand to clay, at a pH of about 5.0 to 7.5. It tolerates drought, poor fertility, and compacted ground and germinates readily from seed without help. Where it is unwanted, removing plants before seed sets is the main control, since a single plant can shed many seeds. It does not need watering or feeding in most settings. Plants complete their life cycle in one or two years and depend on fresh seed to return.Pruning
No pruning is needed for this short-lived plant. Cutting or pulling plants before the seed ripens limits spread into surrounding ground. Spent plants can be removed once they brown at the end of the season.✓ Toxicity
Non-toxicPlanting Guide
Planting Methods & Timing
Planting Method
direct sow
Direct Sow Timing
spring
Days to Maturity
60–90 days
Plant Spacing
10 inches