Potentilla - 5 Gallon Only
Zones:
2-8
Height/Spread:
Varieties from 3 inches to 4 feet tall, and 6 inches to 5 feet wide.
Exposure:
Full sun to partial shade. Plants will flower best with at least 6 hours of full sun. Some afternoon shade in warmer climates will help keep plants blooming longer and the flowers from fading.
Bloom time:
Spring to fall
Color and characteristics:
The saucer-shaped blooms come in shades of white, yellow, pink, orange or red. Flowers are usually single, but can also be semi-double or double. Foliage is finely textured, bright to dark green, with palmate leaves ¾ of an inch to 4 inches long that have 3 to 15 fingerlike leaflets. Fruit is inedible and somewhat dry—resembling strawberries—hence nickname “barren strawberry.” Fall color is insignificant on most varieties.
Toxicity:
Potentilla is an herb whose flowers and leaves are used as natural remedies for stomach upsets or inflammation. It is not known to be harmful to children or pets.
Background:
A member of the rose family, potentilla is native throughout the Northern Hemisphere, found growing in mountain or meadow habitats. There are 500 species, including shrubs and perennials, with a small percentage being annual or biennial. Shrubby cinquefoil (Potentilla fruticosa) is a small-to-medium-sized deciduous shrub most often used by landscapers and home gardeners, though perennial and groundcover types are also available. The common name cinquefoil, meaning “five leaves,” refers to the five leaflets found on many varieties.