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Alpine Cinquefoil

Potentilla crantzii

Please keep in mind that it is illegal to uproot a plant without the landowner's consent and care should be taken at all times not to damage wild plants. Wild plants should never be picked for pleasure and some plants are protected by law.
For more information please download the BSBI Code of Conduct PDF document.

Contents

Plant Profile

Flowering Months:
JAN  FEB  MAR  APR  MAY  JUN  JUL  AUG  SEP  OCT  NOV  DEC
Order:
Rosales
Family:
Rosaceae (Rose)
Also in this family:
Acute Leaf-lobed Lady's-mantle, Alpine Lady's-mantle, Ampfield Cotoneaster, Arran Service Tree, Arran Whitebeam, Barren Strawberry, Bastard Agrimony, Bastard Service Tree, Bearberry Cotoneaster, Bird Cherry, Blackthorn, Bloody Whitebeam, Bramble, Bristol Whitebeam, Broad-leaved Whitebeam, Broadtooth Lady's-mantle, Bronze Pirri-pirri-bur, Bullace Plum, Bullate Cotoneaster, Burnet Rose, Catacol Whitebeam, Caucasian Lady's-mantle, Cheddar Whitebeam, Cherry Laurel, Cherry Plum, Chinese Photinia, Cloudberry, Clustered Lady's-mantle, Common Agrimony, Common Hawthorn, Common Lady's-mantle, Common Medlar, Common Ninebark, Common Whitebeam, Crab Apple, Creeping Chinese Bramble, Creeping Cinquefoil, Crimean Lady's-mantle, Cultivated Apple, Cultivated Pear, Cut-leaved Blackberry, Damson, Devon Whitebeam, Dewberry, Diel's Cotoneaster, Dog Rose, Doward Whitebeam, Dropwort, Elm-leaved Bramble, English Whitebeam, Entire-leaved Cotoneaster, False Salmonberry, Field Rose, Firethorn, Fodder Burnet, Fragrant Agrimony, Franchet's Cotoneaster, Garden Lady's-mantle, Garden Strawberry, Giant Meadowsweet, Glaucous Dog Rose, Goatsbeard Spiraea, Gough's Rock Whitebeam, Great Burnet, Greengage Plum, Grey-leaved Whitebeam, Hairless Lady's-mantle, Hairy Lady's-mantle, Hautbois Strawberry, Himalayan Blackberry, Himalayan Cotoneaster, Himalayan Whitebeam, Hoary Cinquefoil, Hollyberry Cotoneaster, Hupeh Rowan, Hybrid Cinquefoil, Hybrid Geum, Irish Whitebeam, Japanese Cherry, Japanese Quince, Japanese Rose, Jew's Mallow, Juneberry, Lancaster Whitebeam, Late Cotoneaster, Least Lady's-mantle, Least Whitebeam, Leigh Woods Whitebeam, Ley's Whitebeam, Liljefor's Whitebeam, Littleleaf Cotoneaster, Llangollen Whitebeam, Llanthony Whitebeam, Lleyn Cotoneaster, Loganberry, Many-flowered Rose, Margaret's Whitebeam, Marsh Cinquefoil, Meadowsweet, Midland Hawthorn, Mougeot's Whitebeam, Mountain Ash, Mountain Avens, Mountain Sibbaldia, Moupin's Cotoneaster, No Parking Whitebeam, Ocean Spray, Orange Whitebeam, Pale Bridewort, Pale Lady's-mantle, Parsley Piert, Pirri-pirri-bur, Plymouth Pear, Portuguese Laurel, Purple-flowered Raspberry, Quince, Raspberry, Rock Cinquefoil, Rock Lady's-mantle, Rock Whitebeam, Round-leaved Dog Rose, Round-leaved Whitebeam, Rum Cherry, Russian Cinquefoil, Salad Burnet, Sargent's Rowan, Scannell's Whitebeam, Service Tree, Sharp-toothed Whitebeam, Sherard's Downy Rose, Shining Lady's-mantle, Ship Rock Whitebeam, Short-styled Rose, Shrubby Cinquefoil, Silver Lady's-mantle, Silverweed, Slender Parsley Piert, Slender-spined Bramble, Small-flowered Sweetbriar, Small-leaved Sweetbriar, Soft Downy Rose, Somerset Whitebeam, Sorbaria, Sour Cherry, Southern Downy Rose, Southern Lady's-mantle, Spineless Acaena, Spring Cinquefoil, St. Lucie's Cherry, Steeplebush, Stern's Cotoneaster, Stirton's Whitebeam, Stone Bramble, Sulphur Cinquefoil, Swedish Service Tree, Swedish Whitebeam, Sweet Briar, Symond's Yat Whitebeam, Tengyueh Cotoneaster, Thimbleberry, Thin-leaved Whitebeam, Tibetan Cotoneaster, Tormentil, Trailing Tormentil, Tree Cotoneaster, Trefoil Cinquefoil, Twin-cliffs Whitebeam, Two-spined Acaena, Wall Cotoneaster, Water Avens, Waterer's Cotoneaster, Waxy Lady's-mantle, Welsh Cotoneaster, Welsh Whitebeam, White Burnet, White's Whitebeam, White-stemmed Bramble, Wild Cherry, Wild Pear, Wild Plum, Wild Service Tree, Wild Strawberry, Willmott's Whitebeam, Willow-leaved Bridewort, Willow-leaved Cotoneaster, Wineberry, Wood Avens, Wye Whitebeam, Yellow-flowered Strawberry
Type:
Flower
Life Cycle:
Perennial
Maximum Size:
30 centimetres tall
Habitats:
Gardens, grassland, meadows, mountains, rocky places.

Flower:
֍
Yellow, 5 petals
 
Bright yellow flowers, up to 2cm in diameter. Petals have notched tips. 20 stamens.
Fruit:
An elliptical, ridged achene (a type of dry, one-seeded fruit).
Leaves:
A clump-forming, semi-evergreen perennial plant with 3 to (usually) 5 leaflets. Leaves are long-stalked. Leaflets are toothed.
Other Names:
Crantz's Cinquefoil.
Frequency (UK):
Unusual  

Similar Species

Other Information

Summary

Potentilla crantzii, also known as Crantz's cinquefoil, is a perennial plant in the family Rosaceae. It is native to Europe and Asia, and it is found in alpine and subalpine regions. The plant has hairy leaves and yellow flowers that bloom in the summer. It grows to be about 20 cm (8 inches) tall and prefers rocky or gravelly soils. It is often used as an ornamental plant in rock gardens or as a ground cover in areas with poor soil. Potentilla crantzii is also used medicinally for its astringent and anti-inflammatory properties.

Blog

Alpine Cinquefoil, also known as Potentilla crantzii, is a unique and resilient plant that is well-adapted to growing in harsh alpine environments. This beautiful flowering plant is native to the high mountains of Europe and Asia, where it thrives in rocky soils and is able to withstand cold temperatures and strong winds.

One of the key features of Alpine Cinquefoil is its ability to survive in extremely harsh conditions. It is capable of thriving in soils that are low in nutrients, and it is able to withstand temperatures that drop well below freezing. This makes it an ideal plant for use in rock gardens, alpine troughs, and other harsh landscape environments.

In addition to its toughness, Alpine Cinquefoil is also known for its attractive appearance. The plant produces delicate yellow flowers that bloom in the summer, adding a touch of color to the otherwise barren alpine landscape. The flowers are followed by small, silvery-green leaves that provide a beautiful contrast against the rocky soil.

Despite its tough exterior, Alpine Cinquefoil is also quite easy to care for. The plant is low-maintenance and requires very little attention or water. It is also very easy to propagate, making it an ideal choice for gardeners who want to create a lush and beautiful alpine landscape without having to invest a lot of time and effort into maintenance.

Alpine Cinquefoil is a truly unique and resilient plant that is well-suited to growing in harsh alpine environments. Its ability to survive in extreme conditions, its attractive appearance, and its ease of care make it an ideal choice for anyone looking to create a beautiful and low-maintenance alpine landscape.

If you're interested in growing Alpine Cinquefoil in your own garden, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, it is important to provide the plant with well-draining soil, as it does not tolerate wet feet. You should also make sure to plant it in a location that receives plenty of sunlight, as this will help it to thrive. Additionally, it is important to be mindful of the plant's hardiness zone, as it is best suited to growing in cold climates.

When it comes to watering, it is best to err on the side of caution. Alpine Cinquefoil is drought-tolerant and does not require a lot of water, so it is best to avoid over-watering. However, you should still provide it with enough water to keep the soil moist, especially during dry periods.

In terms of maintenance, Alpine Cinquefoil is a very low-maintenance plant. You can simply let it grow and flourish on its own, or you can tidy it up by deadheading the spent flowers and removing any dead or yellowed leaves. This will help to keep the plant looking neat and tidy, and it will also help to promote healthy new growth.

Alpine Cinquefoil is a wonderful choice for anyone looking to add some unique beauty to their alpine garden. With its tough and resilient nature, attractive appearance, and ease of care, it is sure to be a cherished addition to any garden.

In terms of pests and diseases, Alpine Cinquefoil is relatively resistant to most common garden pests. However, it is important to keep an eye out for aphids, which can sometimes feed on the sap of the plant and damage the leaves. In the event of an aphid infestation, you can control them using a strong stream of water, or by using an insecticidal soap.

Another consideration when growing Alpine Cinquefoil is its impact on the local ecosystem. As a non-native plant, it can sometimes become invasive and outcompete native species. To avoid this, it is important to be mindful of its growth and to limit its spread. This can be done by regularly removing any self-sown seedlings and by not allowing the plant to spread beyond its designated area.

Overall, Alpine Cinquefoil is a great choice for anyone looking to add some unique beauty to their alpine garden. With its hardiness and resilience, attractive flowers, and ease of care, it is sure to be a cherished addition for years to come.


Distribution Map

Reproduced by kind permission of the BSBI.

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