Silvery Cinquefoil
ExplorePlants
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
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
3
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
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Summer Blooming
Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
Everblooming
Everblooming plants produce flowers continuously or in repeated flushes over a long period.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
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 to identify Silvery Cinquefoil?
The easiest way to identify Silvery Cinquefoil is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
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
Snap Map
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Recent Snaps
Apr 25, 2026
McDade Parki
Photo attribution
no rights reserved
License: CC0 1.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Where to spot
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