Silver Cinquefoil

(Potentilla argentea)

Silver Cinquefoil (Potentilla argentea)

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Estimated Native Range
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Summary

Potentilla argentea, commonly known as Silver Cinquefoil, is a deciduous perennial herb native to a variety of habitats including meadows, grasslands, and open woodlands in Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean, and Western Asia. It typically grows to a height of 0.5-1 feet (15-30 cm) and a width of 0.5-0.8 feet (15-24 cm). The plant has a sprawling or upright growth habit, reaching up to 0.5 meters high, with silvery, hairy leaves that give it its common name. Silver Cinquefoil produces yellow flowers from late spring to mid-summer, with multiple flowers per plant blooming a few at a time. Each flower is about 1 to 1.5 cm wide, five-petaled, rounded, wedge-shaped, and separated, presenting a sulfur-yellow color in leafy cymes that are modestly showy.

Silver Cinquefoil is valued for its drought tolerance and its ability to thrive in poor soils, making it a good choice for xeriscaping and naturalistic plantings. It is also used in rock gardens, as a ground cover, and for erosion control due to its spreading habit. This plant prefers full sun to part shade and requires low to medium amounts of water, thriving in soils with medium drainage. While generally low-maintenance, it can spread somewhat aggressively in favorable conditions.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

  • Plant Type: Herb
  • Height: 0.5-1 feet
  • Width: 0.5-0.8 feet
  • Growth Rate: Moderate
  • Flower Color: Yellow
  • Flowering Season: Spring, Summer
  • Leaf Retention: Deciduous

Growth Requirements

  • Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
  • Water: Low, Medium
  • Drainage: Medium

Common Uses

Bee Garden, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Groundcover, Low Maintenance, Rabbit Resistant

Natural Habitat

Meadows, grasslands, and open woodlands in Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean, and Western Asia

Other Names

Common Names: Hoary Cinquefoil, Silverleaf Cinquefoil, Silvery Cinquefoil, Silver-Leaved Cinquefoil, Sølv-Potentil, Silber-Fingerkraut, Potentille Argentée, Viltganzerik, Femfingerört, Silverfingerört

Scientific Names: , Potentilla argentea, Potentilla neglecta, Potentilla argentea subsp. argentea, Potentilla argentea var. incanescens, Potentilla argentea var. demissa, Potentilla argentea var. dissecta, Potentilla argentea var. tenuiloba, Potentilla argentea var. decora, Potentilla tenuiloba

GBIF Accepted Name: Potentilla argentea L.