Potentillas

Potentillas also called Cinquefoils

Potentillas, commonly called Cinquefoils, can be grown in a wide variety of conditions. They can tolerate poor soil and still flower well in less sunny areas.

Once they are established, they are fairly drought tolerant also. Maintaining them only requires some light pruning during the growing season to keep them in the desired size and shape. 

They can be cut down low, even to the ground in early spring. This will help keep them in a neat and tidy shape. They will respond with heavier growth and more flowers.

For flowering shrubs to put in your landscape, Potentillas make an excellent choice. They are easy to keep in a neat compact size and they are covered in blooms for longer periods. They start blooming in early summer and will have flowers throughout the summer on into fall.

Interesting foliage

The foliage is made up of smaller leaves, almost lace-like in appearance. They can be pruned to keep them in a tight shape. As the new growth matures, flowers will appear, keeping the flower show going.

The flowers are made up of 5 rounded petals, usually in a shade of yellow. There are exceptions of course. The leaves are finely cut and about an inch in size.

If pruned tight, they will have a nice lacey look even when the flowers are thinner. They make nice border shrubs or foundation plants. Grouped together they can be used as a low flowering hedge.

Some of the Potentillas we may have available here are:

• Primrose Beauty
• Goldfinger
• Pink Whisper
• Abbotswood
• McKay’s White

Primrose Beauty

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Potentilla fruticosa ‘Primrose Beauty’
2′ to 3′ high and 3′ to 4′ wide.
Full sun/partial shade
Showy soft yellow flowers and fine-textured dusty green leaves.

Goldfinger

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Potentilla fruticosa ‘Goldfinger’
2′ to 3′ high and 3′ to 4′ wide.
Full sun/part shade
Bright yellow flowers and fine foliage. Larger flowers and darker green leaves
than Primrose Beauty.

Pink Whisper

Potentilla fruticosa ‘Pink Whisper’
18″ to 24″ high and 24″ to 36″ wide.
Full sun/part shade
Light pink flowers with a yellow center. Fine textured, lace-like foliage.

Abbotswood

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Potentilla fruiticosa ‘Abbotswood’
2′ to 3′ high and 2′ to 3′ wide.
Full sun/part shade
Summer season blooms of white flowers on blue-green foliage.

McKay’s White

Potentilla fruiticosa ‘McKay’s White’
2′ to 3′ high and 2′ to 3′ wide.
Full sun/part shade
A nice rounded shrub with nice white flowers.

Not all of these may be available. There may be others.