British Native Trees
and Shrubs

Shrubby Cinquefoil Potentilla fruticosa (Rosaceae)

This small, bushy, deciduous shrub carries its clear-yellow flowers in abundance over a long period from late spring to mid-autumn. Its twiggy stems seldom grow much above 1.0 m in height and it has dark-green, pinnate leaves, up to 4 cm long, composed of five or seven narrow, oblong leaflets. The saucer-shaped flowers with a prominent centre appear singly or in groups, each up to 1.6 cm across and male and female flowers are carried on separate plants, although they are difficult to distinguish from one another. The females produce single-seeded fruits are in a clustered head.

Shrubby cinquefoil is found on rock ledges and at the margins of lakes and rivers, but is local to only two upland areas in northern England. There are numerous garden cultivars.

This is a valuable, versatile, free-flowering and long-flowering plant can be useful for the border, for rock or gravel areas in a water garden, or it can be used to make a low hedge. It prefers full sun in order to flower well and a light, free-draining soil, although it is tolerant of a wide range of soils. The plant does require moisture and flourishes best where rainfall is dependable. Regular spring pruning of the older shoots will keep the bush more compact. It can be propagated from 10-12 cm cuttings of late summer shoots potted in sandy compost in a propagator, or under polythene, or in a cold greenhouse.

The flower is visited by small insects including picture-winged flies.

Page last updated - January 10, 2002  

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