Rosaceae
Cinquefoil (Potentilla Genus)
Potentilla
Easy, very cold-hardy plants: full sun, well-drained soil of low to moderate fertility and water only in dry spells. They die back in winter and regrow in spring.
Every 7 days
Bright indirect
-20° - °C
% - %
Categories
What is Cinquefoil?
Cinquefoil (Potentilla) is a easy-care plant from the Rosaceae family. Potentilla is a genus of over 500 species in the rose family, mostly herbaceous perennials native to cool and cold regions of the Northern Hemisphere. They look like strawberry plants: leaves usually split into five leaflets (sometimes three, or many in a feather pattern) and five-petalled flowers,...
Cinquefoil grows up to 90cm, spread of 100cm, watering every 7 days. It is not suitable for indoor environments and safe for pets.
Unlike many tropical plants, Cinquefoil tolerates watering mistakes. Best for beginners. Unlike many popular species, Cinquefoil is safe to keep around pets.
How to Care for Cinquefoil?
TLDR: Cinquefoil needs Bright indirect, watering every 7 days, and temperatures between -20-30°C with 40-70% humidity.
How Often Should You Water Cinquefoil?
Water about once a week in dry spells, especially in the first year. Once established they handle short droughts. Avoid waterlogged soil.
How Much Light Does Cinquefoil Need?
Full sun for the best flowering; they tolerate some shade but bloom less.
What Is the Best Soil for Cinquefoil?
Well-drained sandy, loamy or chalky soil of low to moderate fertility; acid to alkaline pH. Too much fertilizer gives lots of leaves and few flowers.
What Pot Should You Use for Cinquefoil?
A wide pot with good drainage, though they do best in borders, edges or rock gardens.
What Is Cinquefoil and Where Does It Come From?
Potentilla is a genus of over 500 species in the rose family, mostly herbaceous perennials native to cool and cold regions of the Northern Hemisphere. They look like strawberry plants: leaves usually split into five leaflets (sometimes three, or many in a feather pattern) and five-petalled flowers, most often yellow but also white, pink or red, from spring into summer. The fruits are dry and inedible. Garden forms such as Potentilla nepalensis and P. atrosanguinea make clumps 30 cm to 1 m tall; others, such as P. reptans, creep along the ground. The shrubby cinquefoil now belongs to the genus Dasiphora.
How to Propagate Cinquefoil?
Division
Small divisions do better potted up in light shade until rooted, then planted out.
- 1 Lift the clump in spring or autumn
- 2 Split it into pieces with roots and shoots
- 3 Replant at the same depth
- 4 Water well until established
Materials needed:
Seed
Garden hybrids do not always come true from seed.
- 1 Sow in early spring or autumn in a tray outdoors or in a cold frame
- 2 Prick out seedlings once large enough to handle
- 3 Grow on in pots until sturdy
- 4 Plant out after the last frosts
Materials needed:
How Big Does Cinquefoil Grow?
TLDR: Cinquefoil can reach up to 90cm tall with Medium growth rate.
Max height
90cm
Spread
1.0m
Growth rate
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Plant Uses
Ornamental
Great for decoration
Medicinal
Medicinal properties
Ground Cover
Soil coverage
Medicinal Uses
- Several species, such as tormentil (P. erecta) and creeping cinquefoil (P. reptans), were used in folk medicine as astringents (traditional use; not a substitute for medical advice).
Is your plant showing symptoms?
Click on the symptom to discover possible causes:
What Diseases Commonly Affect Cinquefoil?
TLDR: Cinquefoil is susceptible to 3 known diseases. Monitor regularly for early detection.
Powdery Mildew
Powdery mildew is a common fungal disease caused by various fungi species including Erysiphe, Podosphaera, Oïdium, and Leveillula. It affects over 10,000 plant species worldwide. The disease thrives in warm, dry climates with high humidity and appears as a distinctive white powdery coating on plant surfaces.
Spider Mites
Spider mites are tiny arachnids (less than 1/20 inch long) related to spiders and ticks that feed on plant sap. They thrive in hot, dry conditions and can cause significant damage to ornamental and vegetable plants. During severe infestations, crop losses can reach 14% or higher as these pests disrupt vital plant processes including photosynthesis, carbon dioxide absorption, and transpiration.
Leaf Spot
Leaf spot is a common fungal disease caused by various pathogens including Alternaria, Ascochyta, Colletotrichum, Septoria, and Venturia. It primarily affects leaves, causing discolored spots that can lead to premature leaf drop if left untreated.
Fun Facts
The name Potentilla comes from Latin and means roughly "little potent one", for its medicinal use.
Cinquefoil means "five leaves", after the shape of the leaves.
They are close relatives of strawberries and lady's mantle.
Frequently asked questions
Is cinquefoil poisonous?
How is it different from shrubby cinquefoil?
Does it need pruning?
When does it flower?
Compare with similar plants
| Attribute | Difficulty | Light | Watering | Pet Safe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Field Maple | Easy | Bright indirect | 14d | ✓ |
| Iberian Houseleek | Easy | Direct sun | 14d | ✓ |
| Silver Birch | Easy | Direct sun | 14d | ✓ |
| Common Blanketflower | Easy | Direct sun | 10d | ✓ |
