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Cinquefoil

Potentilla (po-ten-TIL-ah HY-bri-dah)

Family: Rosaceae Native Herbaceous

Cinquefoil gets its name from its 5-parted leaves. The flowers are about 1 in. wide, and bright against the dark green leaves. The native cinquefoil is known as the "False strawberry" or "Indian strawberry." Cinquefoil hybrids perform best in cool climates and are useful in the mountains and upper Piedmont. They can be propagated by seed or by dividing plants in fall or spring. The plants can be affected by downy mildew, powdery mildew, leaf blister, rust, and fungal leaf spot.

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 35 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 4 - Herbaceous
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Herbaceous Perennial
Life cycle
Perennial
USDA zones
5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
5-parted leaves that give the plant its name. Often have prominent veins and wrinkles.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Orange; Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower shape
Cup; Saucer
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
5-parted, about 1 in. wide
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Himalayas, North America, hybrid origin
Wildlife value
Members of the genus Potentilla support the following specialized bees: Andrena (Derandrena) ziziaeformis, and Panurginus potentillae.
Attracts
Pollinators; Specialized Bees
Play value
Attracts Pollinators
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn; Patio; Rock Wall
Landscape theme
Pollinator Garden; Rock Garden
Design feature
Border; Hedge; Mass Planting
Garden tags
#specialized bees #nectar plant #pollinator plant #fall interest #spring interest #summer flowers #non-toxic for cats #non-toxic for horses #non-toxic for dogs #full sun tolerant #partial shade tolerant #bee friendly #perennial #wildlife friendly
Problems & Resistance
Propagation
Division; Seed

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.