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. Potentilla / ˌpoʊtənˈtɪlə / [1] is a genus containing over 500 species of annual, biennial and perennial herbaceous flowering plants in the rose family, Rosaceae.

Understanding the Context

Potentillas may also be called cinquefoils in English, but they have also been called five fingers and silverweeds. This bushy cinquefoil has a very interesting bushy composure, an abundant blooming ranging from white to red through yellow. It is particularly elegant along edges, as well as in a flower bed and on rocky ground. Very floriferous, Potentilla fruticosa (Shrubby Cinquefoil) is a compact, bushy deciduous shrub boasting masses of large, rich yellow flowers, 1.5 in.

Key Insights

across (4 cm), from late spring to the first frosts. cinquefoil, (genus Potentilla), genus of more than 300 species of herbaceous flowering plants of the rose family (Rosaceae). The common name, which means “five-leaved,” refers to the number of leaflets in the compound leaf, though some species have three or seven (or more) leaflets. Description Dwarf Cinquefoil can be found growing as a wildflower in fields, woods and along roadsides throughout much of the eastern United States. It forms a large mat.

Final Thoughts

The leaflets are narrowly egg-shaped with blunt tips. The narrower portion of the leaf is close to the base. When young, the margins of the leaflets may curl upward. Cinquefoil plants are long lasting perennials that add color and charm to beds, borders, and cottage gardens. They are low maintenance and attract pollinators to the garden.