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Potentilla fruticosa - L.

Common Name Shrubby Cinquefoil, Potentilla
Family Rosaceae
USDA hardiness 2-6
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Damp rocky ground, usually on limestone[17].
Range Europe, including Britain, from Sweden south and east to the Pyrenees, N. and C. Asia to Japan.
Edibility Rating    (1 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Potentilla fruticosa Shrubby Cinquefoil, Potentilla


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Potentilla_fruticosa1.jpg
Potentilla fruticosa Shrubby Cinquefoil, Potentilla
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:MPF

 

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Summary

Bloom Color: Pink, Red, White, Yellow. Main Bloom Time: Early summer, Early fall, Late summer, Mid summer, Mid fall.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Potentilla fruticosa is a deciduous Shrub growing to 1.2 m (4ft) by 1.2 m (4ft in) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6. It is in flower from June to July. The species is dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required). and is pollinated by Bees, flies. The plant is not self-fertile.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Dasiphora fruticosa. Pentaphylloides fruticosa.

Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Ground Cover; Hedge;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts:
Edible Uses: Tea

A tea is made from the dried leaves[2, 46, 61, 183, 257, 272]. Used as a substitute for China tea, especially by people living at high elevations in the Himalayas[272].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Astringent

The leaves are astringent[240]. The juice of the root is used in the treatment of indigestion[272].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Hedge  Hedge  Incense  Packing  Soil stabilization  Tinder

Can be grown as a medium size informal hedge[29, 200]. Trim in spring[200]. Some forms, notably 'Longacre', 'Elizabeth' and 'Gold Drop' have a dense spreading habit and make good ground cover plants[197]. A useful plant for controlling soil erosion[158]. The dry, flaky bark is used as a tinder for friction fires[99, 257]. (fires started by rubbing 2 pieces of wood together very fast). The powdered plant is used as an incense[272]. The leaves are used as a packing material in pillows[257].

Special Uses

Attracts Wildlife  Ground cover  Hedge  Hedge

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Border, Foundation, Ground cover, Massing, Rock garden, Specimen. Easily grown in a well-drained loam, preferring a position in full sun but tolerating shade[1]. Prefers an alkaline soil but tolerates a slightly acid soil[200]. Prefers a light well-drained soil[108]. Established plants are drought tolerant[190]. A very cold-hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to at least -25°c[184]. A very ornamental shrub[1], there are many named varieties[11]. Polymorphic[11]. A good bee plant[108]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[233]. Dislikes growing under trees, especially Juglans species[18]. Plants are usually dioecious but hermaphrodite forms are also known[182]. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required. Special Features: North American native, Attracts butterflies, Attractive flowers or blooms.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Propagation

Seed - sow early spring or autumn in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 3 - 5cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Pot up in the autumn if possible and overwinter in a cold frame[78]. Softwood cuttings taken in the early summer[11, 113]. Easy.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Potentilla anserinaSilverweedPerennial0.3 4-8 FLMHSNM332
Potentilla bicolor Perennial1.0 5-9  LMHSNM10 
Potentilla chinensisChinese CinquefoilPerennial0.6 -  LMHSNM11 
Potentilla cryptotaeniae Perennial1.0 -  LMHSNM01 
Potentilla discolor Perennial0.3 -  LMHSNM21 
Potentilla egedeiPacific SilverweedPerennial0.5 4-8  LMHSNM21 
Potentilla erectaTormentil, Erect cinquefoilPerennial0.3 4-8  LMHSNM131
Potentilla fragarioides Perennial0.3 -  LMHSNM11 
Potentilla glandulosaGland Cinquefoil, Sticky cinquefoil, Arizona cinquefoil, Ashland cinquefoil, Ewan's cinquefoil, HansPerennial0.6 6-9  LMHSNM11 
Potentilla hippianaWoolly CinquefoilPerennial0.6 5-9  LMHSNM01 
Potentilla kleiniana Perennial0.3 -  LMHSNM11 
Potentilla multifida Perennial0.3 3-7  LMHSNM20 
Potentilla nepalensisNepal Cinquefoil, CinquefoilPerennial0.6 5-10 MLMHSNM21 
Potentilla norvegicaNorwegian CinquefoilAnnual/Perennial0.3 3-7  LMHSNM01 
Potentilla palustrisMarsh CinquefoilPerennial0.5 3-7  LMHSNWe111
Potentilla rectaRough-Fruited Cinquefoil, Erect cinquefoilPerennial0.6 4-8  LMHSNM210
Potentilla reptansCinquefoil, Creeping cinquefoilPerennial1.0 4-8  LMHNDM122
Potentilla rupestrisRock CinquefoilPerennial0.5 4-8  LMHSNDM10 
Potentilla simplexOld Field Cinquefoil, Common cinquefoilPerennial0.1 3-7  LMHSNM010
Potentilla supina Annual/Perennial0.3 -  LMHSNM11 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

L.

Botanical References

1117200

Links / References

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Readers comment

Soren Rosborg   Thu Jun 18 2009

My and my friend are trying to import some herbal tea from Russsia and in that occasion we need to prove for the authorities if Pentaphylloides fruticosa have been used as a food in the EU before May 1997! Can anybody help us with this kind of documentation? our maybe send some links?

   Jun 1 2011 12:00AM

Is "hardy to zone 6" a typo? If it's hardy to -25F, it really should be zone 2 or 3...

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