Sulphur Cinquefoil
Potentilla recta
An herbaceous plant showing basal rosette emergence with palmate compound leaves having five to seven leaflets, featuring serrated margins and visible hairiness on petioles.
- Light
- Full sun, requiring 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily
- Water
- Low to moderate watering needs; drought tolerant once established, allow the top few inches of soil to dry out completely before re-watering
- Growth
- Perennial plant growing in a clump-forming habit with upright flowering stems reaching heights of 1 to 2 feet and a similar spread
Care instructions
Provide full sun exposure and well-draining soil. Water moderately during establishment and allow soil to dry between waterings.
Growing details
Sunlight
Full sun, requiring 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily
Watering
Low to moderate watering needs; drought tolerant once established, allow the top few inches of soil to dry out completely before re-watering
Soil
Adaptable to various well-draining soils including sandy, loamy, or rocky substrates with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH range of 6.0 to 7.5
Hardiness zone
USDA zones 3 through 8, demonstrating strong cold tolerance
Growth habit
Perennial plant growing in a clump-forming habit with upright flowering stems reaching heights of 1 to 2 feet and a similar spread
Bloom season
Late spring through summer, producing pale yellow, five-petaled cup-shaped flowers
Propagation
Propagated primarily through seed dissemination or by root division in early spring
Common pests & issues
Generally resilient, though susceptible to occasional fungal leaf spots or root rot if grown in excessively waterlogged soils
Similar species
Rough-fruited cinquefoil (Potentilla recta var. obscura), distinguished mainly by subtle differences in sepal length and achene ornamentation