# cinquefoils (*Potentilla*)

Cinquefoils are cheerful flowers that bloom in bright yellow, white, or pink. They have five petals and are often found in gardens and meadows, making them a favorite for butterflies and bees!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Grasslands

![cinquefoils](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Potentilla_arenaria0_eF.jpg&width=800)

Photo: CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Potentilla_arenaria0_eF.jpg)

## Appearance

The cinquefoils has five-petaled flowers, often bright yellow but also white, pink, or red, resembling small wild roses. Its leaves are typically palmately compound, spreading like fingers from a central point, often with five leaflets, giving it its common name.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Rosales
- **Family:** Rosaceae
- **Genus:** Potentilla

## Interesting facts

- Look closely! Many have leaves divided into five "fingers"!
- Some cinquefoils have furry leaves to stay warm in cold places!
- The name Potentilla means "little powerful one" in Latin!
- They grow on every continent except super-cold Antarctica!

## Special abilities

- **Tough Terrain Master:** Cinquefoils can grow in poor soils and rocky ground thanks to their robust root systems, helping them survive where other plants struggle.
- **Rapid Ground Cover:** Some cinquefoils spread quickly using rhizomes or stolons, creating a dense mat that helps them compete for space and resources.
- **Cold Crusader:** Many varieties are incredibly cold-hardy, allowing them to thrive in mountainous and northern regions where winters are harsh.
- **Herbal Helper:** Cinquefoils have chemical compounds that have been traditionally used in herbal remedies for their anti-inflammatory properties.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 10-90 cm
- **Spread:** 20-100 cm
- **Flower Size:** 1-3 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Spring_to_fall
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Gathers nectar and pollen from flowers.
- **Pollinates:** [Bumblebee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bumblebee) (*Bombus terrestris*) — Feeds on nectar, aiding in pollination.
- **Pollinates:** [Painted Lady](https://www.snappit.app/explore/painted-lady) (*Vanessa cardui*) — Sips nectar, transferring pollen.
- **Eaten by:** [European Rabbit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-rabbit) (*Oryctolagus cuniculus*) — Browses on leaves and young stems.

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
- [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
- [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always ask an adult before picking flowers, and remember to be gentle with nature!

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify cinquefoils?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is cinquefoils?

10-90 cm

### How wide does cinquefoils spread?

20-100 cm

### How big are the flowers on cinquefoils?

1-3 cm

### When does cinquefoils bloom?

Spring_to_fall

### Is cinquefoils edible?

Yes

### Is cinquefoils toxic?

None

### What is cinquefoils's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Nickel Plate Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/nickel-plate-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Cinquefoils: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cinquefoils)