# Creeping cinquefoil (*Potentilla reptans*)

Creeping cinquefoil is a lovely plant with bright yellow flowers that bloom in the summer. It grows low to the ground and can spread out like a carpet, making it a cheerful addition to gardens and fields.

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

![Creeping cinquefoil](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Potentilla_reptans_at_Col_de_Tavaneuse_%281%29.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Krzysztof Golik, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Potentilla_reptans_at_Col_de_Tavaneuse_%281%29.jpg)

## Appearance

The Creeping cinquefoil has slender, reddish stems that creep along the ground, rooting at nodes. Its bright yellow, five-petaled flowers stand out against palm-shaped leaves, each with five serrated leaflets, resembling a small hand.

## Taxonomy

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

## Interesting facts

- 'Cinquefoil' means 'five leaves' in old French, describing its unique foliage!
- Its long stems can creep over a meter in a single growing season! Wow!
- People once believed carrying cinquefoil brought good luck and protection!
- This plant is a super competitor, outcompeting many other small plants!

## Special abilities

- **Ground Hugger:** Creeping cinquefoil sends out long, trailing stems that root as they grow, helping it quickly spread and cover ground.
- **Tough Survivor:** Creeping cinquefoil has a strong root system, thriving in poor soils and disturbed areas, withstanding trampling.
- **Rebirth Power:** Creeping cinquefoil can regrow from stem fragments, allowing it to recover quickly from damage or disturbance.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 10-30 cm
- **Spread:** 50-200 cm
- **Flower Size:** 1-2.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late Spring to Early Autumn
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen from its flowers.
- **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — visits flowers for nectar.
- **Eats:** Grove snail (*Cepaea nemoralis*) — consumes its leaves and stems.
- **Eaten by:** [Roe deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/roe-deer) (*Capreolus capreolus*) — grazes on its foliage.

## Traits

- [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators.
- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [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 check with an adult before touching or picking plants.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Creeping cinquefoil?

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 Creeping cinquefoil?

10-30 cm

### How wide does Creeping cinquefoil spread?

50-200 cm

### How big are the flowers on Creeping cinquefoil?

1-2.5 cm

### When does Creeping cinquefoil bloom?

Late Spring to Early Autumn

### Is Creeping cinquefoil edible?

Yes

### Is Creeping cinquefoil toxic?

None

### What is Creeping cinquefoil's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Wildpark Bruderhaus](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/wildpark-bruderhaus) — Zurich, CH · Zoo

## 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: [Creeping cinquefoil: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/creeping-cinquefoil)