# three-toothed cinquefoil (*Sibbaldiopsis tridentata*)

The three-toothed cinquefoil is a small plant with pretty yellow flowers. It has three little points on its leaves that look like tiny teeth, making it special and fun to spot in nature!

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

![three-toothed cinquefoil](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Sibbaldiopsis_tridentata1.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Christopher Hoess Choess, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sibbaldiopsis_tridentata1.jpg)

## Appearance

The three-toothed cinquefoil is a low-growing plant with distinctive dark green, leathery leaves deeply divided into three 'teeth'. It produces small, delicate white or creamy-yellow flowers, often with reddish stems or leaf margins adding a touch of color.

## Taxonomy

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

## Interesting facts

- In autumn, its deep green leaves can turn a beautiful reddish-bronze color!
- Indigenous peoples once brewed its leaves to make tea for various ailments.
- Its scientific name means 'three-toothed Sibbaldia,' honoring a Scottish naturalist!
- This tough little plant often grows where few others can survive, like high up in mountains!

## Special abilities

- **Winter Warrior:** The three-toothed cinquefoil can keep its tough leaves all winter long, helping it start growing early in the spring!
- **Rock Gripper:** three-toothed cinquefoil has a strong root system that helps it anchor tightly to rocky slopes and barren ground.
- **Mat Maker:** three-toothed cinquefoil can spread out to form dense mats, which helps it prevent soil erosion in harsh, exposed places.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 5-20 cm
- **Spread:** 15-45 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.5-1.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late spring to mid-summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** common eastern bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — Visits flowers for nectar
- **Eaten by:** [white-tailed deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Browses its leaves and stems
- **Eaten by:** [groundhog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/groundhog) (*Marmota monax*) — May graze on the foliage

## Traits

- [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.
- [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [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.
- [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones.

## Collections

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

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't touch wild plants unless a grown-up says it's okay!

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify three-toothed 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 three-toothed cinquefoil?

5-20 cm

### How wide does three-toothed cinquefoil spread?

15-45 cm

### How big are the flowers on three-toothed cinquefoil?

0.5-1.5 cm

### When does three-toothed cinquefoil bloom?

Late spring to mid-summer

### Is three-toothed cinquefoil edible?

Yes

### Is three-toothed cinquefoil toxic?

None

### What is three-toothed cinquefoil's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Pennellville Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pennellville-historic-district) — Maine, US · Historic District
- [Mount Washington State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mount-washington-state-park) — New Hampshire, US · 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: [Three-toothed Cinquefoil: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/three-toothed-cinquefoil)