The genus Potentilla contains over three hundred species of annual, biennial, and perennial flowering plants. They are in the rose family, Rosaceae, and are usually found throughout the northern continents of the world.
In this article we’ll look at 11 different types of Potentilla you may consider planting this season in your gardens.
Potentilla ‘Flamenco’
Potentilla ‘Flamenco’ is a herbaceous perennial which blooms from spring to summer. They generally grow one to two feet tall (and wide), in blood-red, five-petaled flowers with a dark center. They grow well in well-drained, medium moisture soils in direct sunlight or medium shade, and once established are resistant to drought, pests, and disease. If you cut back the stems in the fall, they should be ready to start blooming again in spring.
Potentilla alba (White Cinquefoil)
The Potentilla alba (White Cinquefoil) blooms from April to June. It’s a perennial that grows three inches up to nine inches and has five white petals. Thrives in direct sunlight or partial shade. It can be planted in medium moisture, well-drained soil, and can tolerate drought.
Potentilla anserina (Silverweed)
Potentilla anserina (Silverweed) is a perennial cinquefoil that thrives best in summer. They can bloom anywhere from six inches to a foot high and spread about one to three feet. Grows best in moist soils that are well-drained, in direct sunlight. All parts of the Potentilla anserina are edible and can be added to salads or used to make sweet tea.bes
Potentilla erecta (Tormentil)
Potentilla erecta (Tormentil) is a perennial that grows in late spring to late summer, in well-drained, medium moisture soils. Its four-petaled, bright yellow flowers are an attraction for bees and butterflies. Once established, they are drought resistant. They grow twelve to eighteen inches tall and on average, two feet wide. They are native to Europe, Northern Africa, and Southwest Asia.
Potentilla fruticosa ‘Abbotswood’ (Shrubby Cinquefoil)
Potentilla fruticosa ‘Abbotswood’ (Shrubby Cinquefoil) is a deciduous shrub that is literally covered in white flowers, that bloom from late spring to late fall. They thrive in full sun or partial shade, and like the others in the genus, thrive in well-drained, medium moisture soils. They are one of the best thriving plants once established and are resistant to insects, deer, and salt in soils.
Potentilla fruticosa ‘Daydawn’ (Shrubby Cinquefoil)
Potentilla fruticosa ‘Daydawn’ (Shrubby Cinquefoil) grows to about three feet tall and three feet wide, it blooms with beautiful pink flowers from late spring to early fall. It grows well in dry and medium moisture soils, in direct or partial sunlight. The Potentilla fruticosa, once established, is pest and deer resistant, and can live about thirty years.
Potentilla fruticosa ‘Goldfinger’ (Shrubby Cinquefoil)
Potentilla fruticosa ‘Goldfinger’ (Shrubby Cinquefoil) is a bushy, deciduous shrub with a covering of yellow flowers, one and a half inches across. It can grow up to two or three feet tall on average, moist soil, and direct sunlight or mild shade. Trim a bit after it flowers to make room for new growth, and you’ll have a drought and frost resistant shrub with high resistance to pests and deer.
Potentilla fruticosa ‘Pink Beauty’
Potentilla fruticosa ‘Pink Beauty’ grows from late spring to the first frost, and has masses of pink flowers on a two foot tall bush that grows to an equal width at maturity. Again, grow it in direct sunlight to medium shade with well-drained, medium moisture soil and trim after flowering to make way for new growth. Highly pest and salt resistant.
Potentilla fruticosa ‘Red Ace’
Potentilla fruticosa ‘Red Ace’ are adorned with bright vermilion-red flowers with pale yellow undersides and grow two to three feet tall with a spread of three to four feet at maturity. They have quite a longish season, blooming from late spring to late fall. Grown in medium moisture soil in direct or partial sunlight, they are extremely pest and disease resistant.
Potentilla nepalensis (Nepalese Cinquefoil)
Potentilla nepalensis (Nepalese Cinquefoil) is a perennial with five-petaled strawberry-colored flowers, growing twelve to eighteen inches tall and two feet wide. They can thrive in poor to moderately fertile, medium-moisture soils, this one is found mainly in the Himalayas of Nepal! Pest and disease-free, they are rarely bothered by foraging deer.
Potentilla palustris (Marsh Cinquefoil)
Potentilla palustris (Marsh Cinquefoil) is a rhizomatous and woody-based perennial forming loose clusters of one to three deep red flowers that are equally attractive to bees and hoverflies. Growing best in direct sunlight in permanently moist alkaline or neutral soil, these plants grow twelve to twenty-four inches tall and two to three feet wide. They are native to the Northern Hemisphere and are disease and pest-free.
