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Shrubby Cinquefoil

Potentilla fruticosa

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Category
Tree / Shrub / Vine
Sun
Full to Partial
Soil moisture
Wet to Medium-Dry
Bloom time
Jun–Oct
Bloom color
Yellow

About Shrubby Cinquefoil

Shrubby Cinquefoil is a remarkably hardy and versatile native shrub that provides a nearly continuous display of cheerful color from June through September. Growing into a dense, rounded form about 2 to 4 feet tall, it features small, compound, silvery-green leaves and an abundance of five-petaled, bright yellow flowers. Its native range is vast, spanning much of northern North America, where it thrives in diverse habitats from rocky ridges to boggy meadows. This shrub is a magnet for bees and butterflies, providing a steady nectar source throughout the peak of the growing season. Shrubby Cinquefoil is exceptionally easy to grow, tolerating poor soils, drought, and extreme cold with ease. It prefers full sun to partial shade and can handle soil conditions ranging from wet to medium-dry. Its low-maintenance nature and long bloom period make it an ideal choice for foundation plantings, rock gardens, or as a hardy low hedge in challenging climates.

Native range

Native to 30 states:

AlaskaArizonaCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutIowaIdahoIllinoisIndianaMassachusettsMaineMichiganMinnesotaMontanaNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNevadaNew YorkOhioOregonPennsylvaniaSouth DakotaUtahVermontWashingtonWisconsinWyoming

County range map

BONAP county-level native range map for Potentilla fruticosa

Range map courtesy of BONAP (Biota of North America Program).

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