Native Plants
Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.
Potentilla nivea
Potentilla nivea L.
Snow Cinquefoil, Snowy Cinquefoil, Villous Cinquefoil
Rosaceae (Rose Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: PONI2
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), CAN (N), GL (N)
A densely tufted, 2-16 in. tall perennial with trifoliate, basal leaves often partially hidden by blackish-brown leaf remains. Each of the toothed, wedge-shaped or oval leaflets are covered with long, yellow-gray, silky hairs. Flowering stems have one to three flowers. The petals are deep yellow, fading to pale yellow.
From the Image Gallery
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Herb
Leaf Complexity: Trifoliate
Fruit Type: Achene , Aggregate
Size Notes: Up to about 16 inches tall.
Fruit: Aggregated achenes.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: YellowBloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug
Distribution
USA: AK , AZ , CO , ID , MT , NM , NV , OR , UT , WA , WYCanada: AB , ON , SK
Native Distribution: AK, s. in the Rockies to Deer Lodge Co., MT & CO
Native Habitat: River bars; alpine ridges; rock crevices
Growing Conditions
Light Requirement: SunSoil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Rocky or sandy soils.
Value to Beneficial Insects
Special Value to Native BeesThis information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.
Propagation
Description: Propagate by seed and division.Commercially Avail: yes
Find Seed or Plants
View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.
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 nivea in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Potentilla nivea in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Potentilla nivea
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-02-23Research By: TWC Staff