The Cinquefoil, also known as widdy, golden hardhack, FiveFingers, and yellow rose, is among the most widely cultivated landscape shrubs. It’s valued for its carefree nature, exceptional hardiness, and long flowering period.
This hardy plant is tolerant to various growing conditions. It is resistant to salty air, air pollution, and drought, perfect for urban and coastal locations. Cinquefoil (Potentila fruticosa) is a member of the Rosaceae family and belongs to a genus of approximately 500 species[1].
The common name of Cinquefoil refers to the leaves (cinq means five in French while foil means leaf).
Cinquefoil is a compact, vigorous, flowering deciduous shrub native to northern Asia, Europe, Canada, and the northern United States.
It usually grows in a 2- to the 4-foot-high mound on branches covered with medium green to blue compound leaves (typically five narrow elliptical leaflets each). The saucer-shaped flowers with 5 petals (up to 1.5 inches in diameter) appear during a long summer bloom.
The saucer-shaped flowers are available in shades of red, orange, pink, yellow, or white. The flowers are typically single, but they can also be double or semi-double.