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Silvery Cinquefoil

Potentilla argentea

The Silvery Cinquefoil is a lovely flower with soft, silvery leaves and bright yellow blooms. It grows in sunny places and is often found in fields and meadows, making them a cheerful sight in nature.

Habitat: Grasslands

Appearance

The Silvery Cinquefoil is a low-growing plant with distinctively silvery-white undersides on its leaves, making it stand out from typical green foliage. Its small, five-petaled flowers are bright yellow, often appearing in clusters above the fuzzy, palm-like leaves.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderRosalesFamilyRosaceaeGenusPotentilla
Silvery Cinquefoil
flowering trait badgesummer_blooming trait badgeeverblooming trait badgegrassland trait badge
Silvery Cinquefoil

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

Even though it looks delicate, Silvery Cinquefoil is a wild cousin to the yummy strawberry plant!

Its leaves often have five leaflets, which led to its name meaning 'five fingers'!

Some people once used Silvery Cinquefoil leaves to brew a special herbal tea for various uses!

This tough little plant can thrive in poor, sandy soil where many other plants struggle to grow!

Special abilities

Ability

Silver Shield

Silvery Cinquefoil has tiny white hairs on its leaves that reflect sunlight, helping it survive in hot, sunny places by reducing water loss.

Ability

Rooted Resilience

Silvery Cinquefoil can grow a deep taproot that helps it find water hidden far underground, making it very drought-tolerant.

Ability

Creeping Colonizer

Silvery Cinquefoil has stems that creep along the ground, allowing it to spread and create new roots, helping it colonize new areas.

Measurements & details

Height
10-40 cm
Spread
30-60 cm
Flower Size
0.8-1.5 cm
Bloom Season
Late spring to fall
Edible
No
Toxicity
None
Lifecycle
Perennial
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

European Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

Gathers nectar and pollen

pollinates

Common Eastern Bumblebee

Bombus impatiens

Visits flowers for nectar

parasitizes

Cinquefoil Leaf Miner

Phytomyza potentillae

Larvae feed inside leaves

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't touch flowers without asking an adult first.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is Silvery Cinquefoil?

10-40 cm

How wide does Silvery Cinquefoil spread?

30-60 cm

How big are the flowers on Silvery Cinquefoil?

0.8-1.5 cm

When does Silvery Cinquefoil bloom?

Late spring to fall

Is Silvery Cinquefoil edible?

No

Is Silvery Cinquefoil toxic?

None

What is Silvery Cinquefoil's lifecycle?

Perennial

How is Silvery Cinquefoil pollinated?

Insect

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