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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
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: 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 , YellowBloom 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 , WVCanada: 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: DryBenefit
Conspicuous Flowers: yesValue to Beneficial Insects
Special Value to Native BeesThis 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 |
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 PlantsFNA: Find Potentilla canadensis in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Potentilla canadensis
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-05-10Research By: TWC Staff