Potentilla fruticosa - Bush Cinquefoil or Potentilla (Rosaceae) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Potentilla fruticosa represents a group of dwarf USAGE shrubs with exceptional flowering habits that is Function available in a wide range of colors and that flowers -excellent in borders or rock gardens for long periods of time. Potentilla has small flowers -massing low hedge but produces them from early summer to autumn. Texture Potentilla grows best in full sun and any but a heavy -fine texture when bare soil. It is a low, mound-like plant with good drought -very dense resistance and freedom from serious pest problems. Assets The foliage is usually bluish-green. Rejuvenate this -long flowering period, abundant display of flowers plant with severe pruning every 2-3 yrs. -tolerant of heat, humidity, drought, and average or poor soils FEATURES Liabilities Form -can become scraggly unless properly pruned -small deciduous shrub Habitat -2-4' high x similar spread -Zones 4 to 7 -low, rounded form -found throughout the Northern Hemisphere -often irregular SELECTIONS Culture Alternates -full sun to partial shade -low, deciduous shrubs (Berberis thunbergii, -tolerates most well-drained soils, from slightly Chaenomeles japonica, Philadelphus sp., Spiraea sp., acidic to slightly alkaline etc.) -easy to transplant and culture Cultivars – Variants – Related species -adaptable and urban tolerant Dozens of cultivars exist, differing in flower color -generally pest and disease free and form: -widely available -'Abbotswood' - prolific, long-lasting white flowers Foliage on a 2' tall mound -alternate arrangement -'Coronation Triumph' - One of the earliest to bloom. -pinnately compound leaves The flowers are bright yellow. -usually 5 leaflets (1/2-1" -'Dakota Sunrise' - Bright yellow flowers and a long and half as wide) somewhat more prostrate growth habit. -leaflets narrow elliptic with -'Daydawn' - The flowers are pink and white. pointed apex -'Floppy Disc' - Double pink flowers are combined -entire margin with a low, spreading habit. -no petiole (sessile) -'Gold Drop'- lemon yellow flowers on a rounded, -dark green compact plant with fine, fan-like foliage. -autumn color greenish -'Goldfinger' - golden yellow flowers on compact yellow, not effective hardy plant. Flowers all summer. Flowers -'McKay's White' - Creamy white flowers. -single to double, -'Orangeade' - Orange flowers that fade in the sun. depending on the cultivar -'Primrose Beauty' - Pale yellow flowers are -rounded, with 5 petals combined with silvery gray foliage. -1" or wider in diameter -'Red Ace' - Flowers red when the plant is grown in -white, yellow, red partial shade and during cold weather. They become (depending on the orange during the summer. cultivar) -'Red Robin' - Red flowers that fade only slightly. -long flowering period -'Sundance' - Double, yellow flowers. starting in June and often -'Sunset' - Orange flowers during cooler weather until frost become yellow in summer. Fruits -'Yellow Gem' - The yellow flowers have ruffled -brown, hairy achene petals. -not ornamental Twigs -fine strips of peeling bark with age -plants very twiggy Trunk -not applicable.