World Plants

Potentilla fruticosa (Bush Cinquefoil)

Michael's Opinion

A shrub for any landscape, used in massing and grouping and is tolerant of a wide range of soil types. Also flowers continually through spring to autumn. There are a wide variety of cultivars available with my personal preference towards the white flowered cultivars.

Botanical Information

Family	Rosaceae
Genus	Potentilla
Species	fruticosa
Category	Woody
Type	Shrub (deciduous)
Pronunciation

Details

USDA Hardiness Zone	2–6 (7)
USDA Hardiness Ref.
Canadian Hardiness Zone	2–8
Canada Hardiness Ref.
RHS Hardiness Ref.
Temperature (°C)	-45C
Temperature (°F)	-50F
Height	0.3–1.1 m
Spread	1–1.2 m
Growth	Medium
Flowering Period	May, June, July, August, September

Description and Growing Information

General Description	Dense, small bushy shrub with exfoliating bark. Flowers have five petals and bloom continuously from May to September.
ID Characteristic	Palmate tomentose leaves with 3-7 leaflets and small brightly coloured yellow flowers adorn this mounding shrub. The stems are shiny brown and the foliage is dense.
Shape	Bushy, rounded shrub with slender but dense upright stems.
Propagation	Easy; can be grown from seed or cuttings. Seed propagation should be done in autumn; plant in summer. Softwood cuttings are best rooted under mist using 1000 ppm of IBA.
Cultivation	Extremely hardy, tolerating conditions ranging from sandy, clay, or very alkaline soils and exposed sites to wet or dry conditions. Prefers well-drained soil and full sun but will grow in partial or light shade.
Pests	Rare; occasional issues with mildew and fungal leaf spot, usually resulting from over fertilization. Dry spells can increase susceptibility to spider mites.
Notable Specimens	The French River District, Ontario. Gull Lake Wetland areas of Manitoba.
Habitat	Native to the temperate northern hemisphere; mountainous Asia, Europe, and North America.
Bark/Stem Description	Green and tomentose on new growth. Brown and somewhat exfoliant on old growth.
Flower/Leaf Bud Description	Small brown tomentose buds scaled, approximately 6 mm in length.
Leaf Description	Spring leaves are silky grey green turning dark green when mature. Leaflets are narrow and elliptical in shape; arranged palmately. Leaf size ranges from 1.2-2.5 cm long.
Flower Description	Abundant bright, cheery, yellow, saucer shaped, flowers with five petals. Cultivars produce other colours including shades of white, pink, red, and orange. Size ranges from 2.5-3.8 cm across.
Fruit Description	Very small achene approximately 1 mm in length, brown-purple in colour.
Colour Description	Unimpressive autumn colour ranging from yellow to brown. Green in spring and summer.
Texture Description	Fine in leaf; medium-fine in winter; medium-fine in winter; tomentose.