Potentilla canadensis / Dwarf Cinquefoil (Rose Family)

Dwarf cinquefoil makes an excellent, low maintenance, fast spreading groundcover. A single plant can rapidly cover a couple square feet of ground. It is not fussy about soil or light, but spreads faster in at least 4 hours of sun. Foliage is semi-evergreen in our Piedmont climate. It can take on nice red tones in the fall and winter. This plant could easily be mistaken for wild strawberry, but tends to be a little less fussy and spread faster.

Blooms: Yellow, 4-6 weeks, May-June
Leaves: Palmate leaves lay flat to the ground and send out long runners, semi-evergreen
Height: 4-6”
Space: 2-3’
Soil: Average-Moist
Exposure: Part sun-Full sun
Fauna:  Small bees and flies, seeds for small animals
Deer Resistance:High
Zone: 4-9
Native Status: NC native, common across the state
Provenance: NC, asexually propagated