# shrubby cinquefoils (*Dasiphora*) Shrubby cinquefoils are cheerful little shrubs with bright yellow flowers. They grow in many places and are great for gardens, attracting butterflies and bees! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 7 - **Habitat:** Grasslands - **Also known as:** Cinquefoil, Potentilla, shrubby cinquefoil ![shrubby cinquefoils](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Potentilla-fruticosa.jpg&width=800) Photo: CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Potentilla-fruticosa.jpg) ## Appearance The shrubby cinquefoils has small, compound leaves often with a silvery-green hue. Its cheerful flowers typically have five round, bright yellow petals, though some varieties boast white, orange, or pink blooms. It grows as a dense, low-spreading shrub. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Angiosperms - **Class:** Eudicots - **Order:** Rosales - **Family:** Rosaceae - **Genus:** Potentilla ## Interesting facts - "Cinquefoil" means "five leaves", even though many leaves have more! - Its flower petals can be used to make natural dyes for fabric! - Its roots are so tough they help hold soil together on hillsides! - Some wild varieties can grow way up high on cold mountains! ## Special abilities - **Winter Warrior:** Shrubby cinquefoils can survive extreme cold and harsh winters, bouncing back to bloom again. - **Sun Seeker:** This plant thrives in full sunshine and very dry, rocky soils where others struggle to grow. - **Pollinator Paradise:** Its long-lasting blooms offer a steady feast of nectar and pollen for insects all summer. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 50-150 cm - **Spread:** 50-150 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-3 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early fall - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Common Eastern Bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — Gathers nectar and pollen from its flowers. - **Pollinates:** European Honeybee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits blooms for valuable nectar and pollen. - **Eats:** [Grizzled Skipper](https://www.snappit.app/explore/grizzled-skipper) (*Pyrgus malvae*) — Its caterpillars sometimes feed on the leaves. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [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. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [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. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low These plants are safe to touch, but it's best to look without picking them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify shrubby 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 shrubby cinquefoils? 50-150 cm ### How wide does shrubby cinquefoils spread? 50-150 cm ### How big are the flowers on shrubby cinquefoils? 2-3 cm ### When does shrubby cinquefoils bloom? Late spring to early fall ### Is shrubby cinquefoils edible? No ### Is shrubby cinquefoils toxic? None ### What is shrubby cinquefoils's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Cut Bank Ranger Station Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cut-bank-ranger-station-historic-district) — Montana, US · Historic District - [Sherburne Ranger Station Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sherburne-ranger-station-historic-district) — Montana, US · Historic District - [Purcell Wilderness Conservancy Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/purcell-wilderness-conservancy-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Cora](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cora) — Wyoming, US · Neighborhood - [Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cumbres-and-toltec-scenic-railroad) — New Mexico, US · Historic District - [Echo Lake Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/echo-lake-park) — Colorado, US · Natural Landmark [View all places to see shrubby cinquefoils](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/shrubby-cinquefoils) ## 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*) --- Source: [Shrubby Cinquefoils: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/shrubby-cinquefoils)