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Bransford, W.D. and Dolphia

Potentilla canadensis

Potentilla canadensis L.

Dwarf Cinquefoil

Rosaceae (Rose Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: POCA17

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

A low, spreading plant with silvery-downy stems and yellow flowers blooming singly on long stalks rising from the axils of palmately 5-parted leaves.

This species is very similar to Common Cinquefoil (P. simplex), but the latter has larger leaflets, up to 2 1/2" (6.3 cm) long, and the first flower arises from the axil of the second leaf. Both species are indicators of impoverished soil.

From the Image Gallery

1 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Fruit Type: Achene , Aggregate
Size Notes: Up to about 6 inches tall. Stems initially ascending to erect, soon becoming prostrate, up to about 4 feet long, often rooting at some nodes.
Fruit: Aggregated achenes.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Yellow
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , GA , KY , MA , MD , ME , MO , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV
Canada: NB , NS , ON , PE , QC
Native Distribution: Ontario to Nova Scotia; south to Georgia; west to Tennessee, Missouri, and Ohio.
Native Habitat: Dry open soil.

Growing Conditions

Soil Moisture: Dry

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)

Grizzled Skipper
(Pyrgus centaureae)

Adult Food Source

Learn more at BAMONA

Bibliography

Bibref 1186 - Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America (2005) Covell, C.V., Jr.
Bibref 1185 - Field Guide to Western Butterflies (Peterson Field Guides) (1999) Opler, P.A. and A.B. Wright

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Potentilla canadensis in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Potentilla canadensis in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Potentilla canadensis

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-05-10
Research By: TWC Staff

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