The illustrated growing guide
Potentilla (Shrubby Cinquefoil)
Dasiphora fruticosa
Family Rosaceae
Est. zones 2-7
The tough little shrub for brutal climates — hardy to zone 2, it blooms buttercup-yellow (or white or pink) from late spring until frost with essentially no care, in poor soil, heat, cold, and drought. A native, pollinator-friendly, foolproof filler for parking lots and northern gardens where fussier shrubs die. Shear it hard every few years to keep it fresh.
Full Sun
Low water
Moderate growth
Native to North America
Attracts beesI
Overview
Will potentilla (shrubby cinquefoil) suit your garden, and what goes wrong.
Will it thrive where you are?
Enter your ZIP — we look up your USDA hardiness zone (2023 map) and check it against what potentilla (shrubby cinquefoil) actually needs.
Hardy inZones 2-7Potentilla (Shrubby Cinquefoil) at a glance
Common potentilla (shrubby cinquefoil) problems
- Almost none
- Almost none
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Growing
Light, water, soil, propagation and the season’s jobs.
How to grow potentilla (shrubby cinquefoil): light, water & soil
How to plant & propagate potentilla (shrubby cinquefoil)
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The year
What potentilla (shrubby cinquefoil) asks for, month by month.
The potentilla (shrubby cinquefoil) year, month by month
BloomPruneWhat each band means
- Bloom — flowers open — pollinators working, frost on blossoms is the danger.
- Prune — shape it now — cuts heal cleanly and structure is visible.
The potentilla (shrubby cinquefoil) year as text
- Jan quiet month
- Feb pruning
- Mar pruning
- Apr quiet month
- May bloom
- Jun quiet month
- Jul quiet month
- Aug quiet month
- Sep quiet month
- Oct quiet month
- Nov quiet month
- Dec quiet month
These are the species' typical months — expect them a few weeks earlier in warm zones and later in cold ones. Watch the plant, not just the calendar.
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Ecology & uses
What it does for the garden, and what it is grown for.
Potentilla (Shrubby Cinquefoil) in the garden system
- Shrub layer shrub
- Nectary/insectary
What potentilla (shrubby cinquefoil) is grown for
✓ Not known to be toxic
Edibility, identification, and traditional-use notes here are general reference — not medical or veterinary advice, and not a claim that any plant treats or prevents anything. Medicinal ratings record how strongly a plant features in herbal tradition, nothing more. Never eat or dose a plant you have not positively identified. More on how to use this library.
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Cultivars
Named varieties of potentilla (shrubby cinquefoil), ruled as a catalogue.
Best potentilla (shrubby cinquefoil) varieties & cultivars
'Goldfinger' (yellow); 'Abbotswood' (white); 'Pink Beauty'; 'Happy Face' series
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Sources & plant ID
Where the care distinctions come from, and how the plant is filed.
Research basis
Sources behind this profile
No extension citations are attached to potentilla (shrubby cinquefoil)yet. The care figures below come from the library's own catalogue rather than a traced primary source.
Plant ID
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Where to buy
Third-party nurseries — not Story Thyme Farms.
Third-party nurseries, not Story Thyme Farms. Prices are theirs.
Story Thyme Farms may earn a small commission from these links, at no cost to you — it never changes what we recommend.
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Questions
Potentilla (Shrubby Cinquefoil) questions, answered straight.
Is potentilla (shrubby cinquefoil) safe for kids and pets?
Potentilla (Shrubby Cinquefoil) is commonly eaten and isn't considered toxic, but "commonly eaten" isn't a guarantee for any particular person or animal — allergies, quantity, and which part you eat all matter. Never eat a plant you haven't positively identified, and check with a vet before letting pets or livestock graze anything new.
How do you propagate potentilla (shrubby cinquefoil)?
Seed (stratify), cuttings, or layering.
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Elsewhere
Where potentilla (shrubby cinquefoil) sits in the library.
Rose
Hydrangea
Common Lilac
Forsythia