Department of Entomology Native Plants and Ecosystem Services

Shrubby cinquefoil

Potentilla fruticosa auct. non L.

Family: Rosaceae (rose)

---

• Bloom Period:
  • Late,
  • Mid-Season,
• Growth Cycle:
  • Perennial,
• Growth Habit:
  • Forbs/Herbs,
• Insect Type Attracted:
  • Natural Enemy,
  • Pollinator,
• Light:
  • Full,
  • Partial,
• Region:
  • Northern Lower Peninsula,
  • Southern Lower Peninsula,
  • Upper Peninsula,
• Soil Moisture:
  • Dry,
  • Medium,
  • Wet
• Height:
  • 2-4ft

Natural enemies attracted

Highly attractive: Orius insidiosus.

Moderately attractive: Chalcidoidea, Thomisidae, and Empididae.

Mildly attractive: Nabidae, Cantharidae, Cynipoidea, Syrphidae, Coccinellidae, Stratiomyidae, Plagiognathus politus, Chrysopidae, Braconidae and Aeolothripidae.

Pollinators attracted

Moderately attractive: bees including yellow-faced bees and sweat bees.

Pests attracted

Highly attractive: lygus bugs.

Moderately attractive: leafhoppers and Japanese beetles.

Mildly attractive: thrips, froghoppers, aphids and weevils

Plant notes

Small, bright yellow, five-petaled flowers bloomed on this shrubby plant that grows 2-4 ft tall. Plants filled in well during the first growing season after plugs were planted. Blooming peaked in July, however plants continued to bloom through September. This species was the second most attractive mid-season plants to natural enemies, with three times as many natural enemies as the grass control.

Habitat

Tolerance for this species includes full sun to partial sun and fairly dry to very moist soils. Shrubby cinquefoil soil conditions range from fairly dry to very moist. It is naturally occurring in open wet ground around lakes and streams and in meadows. This species is an indicator of alkaline soil conditions.

Cultivation and management

This plant flowers from seed in the second or third year. It also can be grown from plug material and will flower the first year. It is not susceptible to deer or other vertebrate browsing; adaptable and tough.