Shrubby cinquefoil
This is the shrubby, woody Potentilla (P. fruticosa and its cultivars), not the low herbaceous strawberry-like Potentilla species — the two look and behave very differently, though this KB currently covers only the shrubby type.
Care
Flowers most freely in full sun.
Drought-tolerant once established.
Adaptable, well-drained soil of most types, including poor soil.
Minimal — trim lightly to shape in late winter or early spring. Renovate congested older plants by cutting back hard in spring; this shrub tolerates hard renovation well and usually recovers strongly.
No feeding. It flowers all summer on poor, dry, sunny ground, and a fed plant grows leafy and open with noticeably fewer flowers.
Semi-ripe cuttings in summer root easily in gritty compost. Since the shrub goes woody and sparse with age, having a young replacement coming on is worth the five minutes.
Month by month
Months change with the climate: in southern Italy tomatoes go out two months earlier than in England.
- MarchTrim lightly to shape, or cut back hard if renovating an old, congested plant. how ›
- JuneMain flowering season begins — this genus flowers continuously over a long season rather than in one flush.
- SeptemberFlowering usually continues into early autumn.
Months based on climate: UK. Your choice stays on this device.
- MarchTrim lightly to shape, or cut back hard if renovating an old, congested plant. how ›
- JuneMain flowering season begins — this genus flowers continuously over a long season rather than in one flush.
- SeptemberFlowering usually continues into early autumn.
Months based on climate: Northern Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
- FebruaryTrim lightly to shape, or cut back hard if renovating an old, congested plant. how ›
- MayMain flowering season begins — this genus flowers continuously over a long season rather than in one flush.
- SeptemberFlowering usually continues into early autumn.
Months based on climate: Central Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
- FebruaryTrim lightly to shape, or cut back hard if renovating an old, congested plant. how ›
- MayMain flowering season begins — this genus flowers continuously over a long season rather than in one flush.
- OctoberFlowering usually continues into early autumn.
Months based on climate: Southern Italy and islands. Your choice stays on this device.
Common problems
How to spot it. White coating on leaves in dry conditions.
What to do. Improve air circulation by thinning congested growth; usually not serious.
How to spot it. Fewer flowers on a shrub several years old.
What to do. Cut back hard in spring to renovate — this genus responds well to a hard prune and usually flowers strongly on the resulting fresh growth.
How to spot it. Fine mottling on leaves in hot, dry weather.
What to do. Water well in drought; usually not serious outdoors.
Popular varieties
Questions
Shrubby cinquefoil: is it hardy?
H7: Fully hardy anywhere in the UK. It survives below −20 °C.
Can it grow in a pot?
Does well in a pot for many years, given well-drained compost.
Shrubby cinquefoil: when do you prune it?
Minimal — trim lightly to shape in late winter or early spring. In the calendar for UK, pruning falls in March.
Shrubby cinquefoil: when does it flower?
In the climate of UK it flowers in June–September.
When do you feed it?
No feeding. It flowers all summer on poor, dry, sunny ground, and a fed plant grows leafy and open with noticeably fewer flowers.