Jennifer Anderson. United States, IA, Jackson Co., McNeil Preserve. 2002., no rights reserved (CC0) · Wikimedia Commons

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Potentilla simplex

common cinquefoil

Rosaceae Eastern and central North America

Attracts Pollinators Drought Tolerant

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 3–8

Overview

Potentilla simplex is a low-growing herbaceous perennial reaching 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) tall, spreading by slender, arching stolons that root at the nodes and can extend 12-24 inches (30-60 cm) in a season. Leaves are palmately compound with five toothed leaflets, each leaflet 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) long, oblong with serrated margins, mid-green above and paler beneath. Solitary yellow flowers, about 0.4-0.6 inch (10-15 mm) across, have five rounded petals and 20-25 stamens, borne on thin stalks from the leaf axils. Flowering occurs from April through June, with sporadic later blooms. The plant produces small dry achenes after flowering. Growth is mat-forming but open, with individual stems widely spaced rather than dense. The first flower typically opens from the axil of the lowest well-developed stem node, a trait separating it from similar cinquefoils. Foliage dies back to a basal crown in winter in colder zones. In lawns and disturbed ground the stolons can spread into adjacent beds, and the plant competes with low turf grasses. It tolerates poor, dry soils but flowers less in deep shade.

Native Range

Native to eastern and central North America, from Quebec and Ontario south to Georgia and west to Minnesota and Texas. Grows in dry to moist open woods, fields, clearings, roadsides, and lawns, often in disturbed or nutrient-poor soils.

Suggested Uses

Used as a groundcover in naturalized areas, meadow plantings, and woodland edges where its spreading habit fills open ground. Planted on slopes and dry banks for erosion control at 12-18 inch (30-45 cm) spacing. The spreading stolons make it less suited to small formal beds, where it can overrun neighboring plants.

How to Identify

Distinguished from Potentilla canadensis by flowering from the axil of the first well-developed stem node rather than the lowest scale-like node, and by blooming slightly later. Leaves are palmately divided into five toothed leaflets 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) long. Stems are slender, arching, and root at the tips, bearing single yellow flowers 0.4-0.6 inch (10-15 mm) across.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6" - 1'

Width/Spread1' - 2'

Colors

Flower Colors

yellow

Foliage Colors

green

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~8 weeks

Spring Summer

Blooms April through June across most of its range, peaking in May. Individual flowers last 1-2 days; the overall bloom period extends 6-8 weeks. Scattered flowers may appear into summer in cooler, moister sites. Flowering is reduced in shaded locations.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

mid-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-8 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

loam sand clay

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

1-2 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun to part shade and adapts to a range of soils, including dry, sandy, or nutrient-poor ground. Water needs are low once established; the plant tolerates several weeks of drought but stays smaller in dry conditions. No fertilization is required, and feeding encourages stolon spread. The stolons root readily and form new plants, so the patch widens each year unless runners are removed. Few pests or diseases affect it; occasional leaf spot appears in humid conditions and is cosmetic. In lawns it persists under regular mowing because of its low growth point.

Pruning

No structural pruning is needed. Trailing stolons can be cut back or pulled in spring or summer to limit spread into adjacent beds. Removing runners before they root reduces the rate of expansion. Foliage dies back on its own in late autumn and old growth can be cleared in early spring.