Potentilla
Potentilla has blurry lines between herbaceous perennial and woody shrub. You will find both types as potentilla and/or cinquefoil, cinquefoil simply being the old French common name .As a shrub we are referring to the woody bush and you may see it called a Shrubby Cinquefoil. If you think potentilla has been overused, it is because it is so very hardy and easy to grow.
Potentilla Potentilla fruticosa ‘Abbotswood’
Hardiness Zones: Zones 3-7
Light Requirements: Full Sun to Part Shade
Water Requirements: Prefers moist well drained soils, but will tolerate dry conditions once established
Mature Height: 2- 3 feet
Mature Spread: 2-3 feet
Shape: Upright and mounded
Growth Rate: Moderate to fast
Soil Preference: Tolerates a variety of soil conditions, but does not like wet soil
Foliage: Blue green fine ferny foliage
Blooms: Pure white
Fruit: None
Disease and Insects: Good resistance to pests and disease. Humid climates may invite mildew.
Fertilize: Apply a balanced or slow release fertilizer in early spring.
Pruning: Prune late in winter when flowering is completely over
All summer long this tough and hardy dwarf potentilla is covered with bright white buttercup blooms. Butterflies love the flowers. ‘Abbotswood’ is one of the best white flowering potentilla, producing masses of pure bright white blooms from early summer well into fall.
‘Abbotswood’ is wonderful for foundation plantings, edging a border, mass plantings or hedging. Will also hold up fairly well to road salt for boulevard plantings.
Potentilla Potentilla fruticosa ‘Bailmeringe’ also known as ‘Lemon Meringue’
Hardiness Zones: Zones 2-9
Light Requirements: Full Sun to Part Shade
Water Requirements: Prefers moist well drained soils, but will tolerate dry conditions and is drought tolerant.
Mature Height:2- 3 feet
Mature Spread: 2-3 feet
Shape: Upright and mounded
Growth Rate: Moderate to fast
Soil Preference: Tolerates a variety of soil conditions, but does not like wet soil
Foliage: Fine ferny foliage of true green
Blooms: Butter yellow double blooms
Fruit: None
Disease and Insects: Good resistance to pests and disease
Fertilize: Apply a balanced or slow release fertilizer in early spring.
Pruning: Prune late in winter
From spring to early fall ‘Lemon Meringue’ will be covered with cheery butter yellow double flowers with a golden eye. Blooms are held at the tips of the branches, holding them all up to be appreciated. The shrub is densely multi stemmed, allowing for lots of blooms. Butterflies are attracted by the blooms.
The ground hugging dense form creates excellent ground cover, and of course for foundation plantings, shrub borders, or anywhere in your landscape. It will spread nicely to spill over a garden wall and will do well in containers if kept watered. Not favored by deer. Very tough and hardy, ‘Lemon Meringue’ was bred on the Canadian plains.
Potentilla Potentilla fruticosa ‘Gold Star’
Hardiness Zones: Zones 3-9
Light Requirements: Full Sun to Part Shade
Water Requirements: Prefers moist well drained soils, but will tolerate dry conditions and is drought tolerant.
Mature Height:2- 3 feet
Mature Spread: 2-3 feet
Shape: Rounded
Growth Rate: Moderate to fast
Soil Preference: Tolerates a variety of soil conditions, but does not like wet soil. Very tolerant of poor soil
Foliage: Fine ferny foliage of deep green
Blooms: Golden yellow
Fruit: None
Disease and Insects: Good resistance to pests and disease
Fertilize: Apply a balanced or slow release fertilizer in early spring.
Pruning: Prune late in winter
‘Gold Star’ produces an abundance of 2” golden yellow blooms all summer, from early spring right into fall. The blooms are earlier and larger than ‘Goldfinger’. It thrives best in full sun. Deep green delicate leaves and a compact, mounded growing habit make a lovely specimen plant.
It is a low grower, so it also works well as a ground cover or to “hold a hill”. Perfect for a colorful country garden, along a fence or in foundation plantings. It will also do well in a container, but make sure to give it a good sized pot.
Potentilla Potentilla fruticosa ‘Mango Tango’
Hardiness Zones: Zones 2-7
Light Requirements: Full Sun to Part Shade
Water Requirements: Prefers moist well drained soils, but will tolerate dry conditions and is somewhat drought tolerant.
Mature Height:2- 3 feet
Mature Spread: 2-3 feet
Shape: Rounded
Growth Rate: Moderate to fast
Soil Preference: Tolerates a variety of soil conditions, but does not like wet soil. Very tolerant of poor soil
Foliage: Fine ferny foliage of green
Blooms: Golden yellow, orange, red
Fruit: None
Disease and Insects: Good resistance to pests and disease
Fertilize: Apply a balanced or slow release fertilizer in early spring.
Pruning: Shear spent blooms after the spring flush has faded to produce heavier summer blooming. Prune late in winter
Mango Tango is a lovely newer introduction, developed at the University of Manitoba. Bi-color flowers have a yellow base, with orange and red markings radiating from the center. 2” blooms are produced in late spring into fall. Shearing after the first spring flush of bloom will encourage reblooming. In cool weather the blooms are more red and orange, developing more yellow as the summer heats up. I have grown this variety and although I love the red, orange, yellow bloom colors, it is rare that you see blooms anything but yellow. The color is highly variable based on sun, temperatures and general conditions.
Very adaptable to poor soil and wet or dry conditions. Neat and compact growing habit makes it a good choice for border planting.
Potentilla Potentilla fruticosa ‘Pink Beauty’
Hardiness Zones: Zones 3-7
Light Requirements: Full Sun to Part Shade
Water Requirements: Prefers moist well drained soils, but will tolerate dry conditions and is somewhat drought tolerant.
Mature Height:2- 3 feet
Mature Spread: 2-3 feet
Shape: Rounded
Growth Rate: Slow to moderate
Soil Preference: Tolerates a variety of soil conditions, but does not like wet soil. Very tolerant of poor soil
Foliage: Fine ferny foliage of green
Blooms: Clear pink, sometimes edges blushed white.
Fruit: None
Disease and Insects: Good resistance to pests and disease
Fertilize: Apply a balanced or slow release fertilizer in early spring.
Pruning: Shear spent blooms after the spring flush has faded to produce heavier summer blooming. Prune late in winter
‘Pink Beauty’ is a prolific bloomer producing masses of pink blooms blushed at the edges with white. Blooms are an intense pink in cooler weather, softening to a blush pink in summer heat. Where nights remain very warm the pink will soften to a blush pink. Blooming begins in late spring and continues well into fall. The pretty pink blooms and clear green foliage are reminiscent of wild roses.
This potentilla is so perfect for a cottage garden, adorning a fence line, foundation plantings, really any place you would love to see the pretty pink blooms all summer. ‘Pink Beauty’ potentilla is even salt tolerant for boulevard plantings. A superior variety of potentilla.
Potentilla Potentilla fruticosa ‘Sunset’
Hardiness Zones: Zones 2-7
Light Requirements: Full Sun to Part Shade
Water Requirements: Prefers moist well drained soils, but will tolerate dry conditions and is somewhat drought tolerant once established
Mature Height: 2 feet
Mature Spread: 3 feet
Shape: Rounded
Growth Rate: Slow to moderate
Soil Preference: Tolerates a variety of soil conditions, but does not like wet soil. Very tolerant of poor soil
Foliage: Fine ferny foliage of green
Blooms: Orange, red and yellow
Fruit: None
Disease and Insects: Good resistance to pests and disease
Fertilize: Apply a balanced or slow release fertilizer in early spring.
Pruning: Shear spent blooms after the spring flush has faded to produce heavier summer blooming. Prune late in winter.
‘Sunset’ has rich bright orange-red and yellow blooms from early summer to frost. In part shade color will be more red, in full sun more yellow and blooms will also fade to yellow in heat. ‘Sunset’ is very hardy and long lived. Generally grows to about 2 feet high and 3 feet wide, but can get larger in ideal conditions. ‘Sunset’ potentilla is perfect where ever you want bold color from spring to frost. So very easy to grow and care for. Unpruned, the shrub may get a little leggy and sprawling.
Potentilla Potentilla atrosanguinea ‘William Rollinson’
Hardiness Zones: Zones 4-8
Light Requirements: Full Sun to Part Shade
Water Requirements: Prefers moist well drained soils, but will tolerate dry conditions and is somewhat drought tolerant.
Mature Height: 16-24”
Mature Spread: 15-20”
Shape: Rounded
Growth Rate: Slow to moderate
Soil Preference: Tolerates a variety of soil conditions, but does not like wet soil. Very tolerant of poor soil
Foliage: Fine ferny foliage of green
Blooms: Semi double deep orange red
Fruit: None
Disease and Insects: Good resistance to pests and disease
Fertilize: Apply a balanced or slow release fertilizer in early spring.
Pruning: Shear spent blooms after the spring flush has faded to produce heavier summer blooming. Prune late in winter
‘William Rollinson’ potentilla is a wonderful low growing plant that produces masses of rose like red orange double blooms with yellow highlights all summer. It grows in neat mounds of silvery backed foliage. Classic blooms are perfect in a cottage garden.
Excellent as a ground cover, in a rock garden, or accenting landscaping or perennial beds. William Rollinson performs best in full sun. Does not like hot or cold extremes.