Dwarf Cinquefoil can be found growing as a wildflower in fields, woods and along roadsides throughout much of the eastern United States. It forms a large mat. Each plant has a single flower, typically yellow with a white margin. Each of the 5 petals of the flower is narrow toward the center and rounded at the tip. The tips may also be notched. The center of the flower is flattened and surrounded by 20+- stamens. The leaflets are narrowly egg-shaped with blunt tips. The narrower portion of the leaf is close to the base. When young, the margins of the leaflets may curl upward. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Spreading
Foliage
Semi-evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Oblanceolate; Obovate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Palmate leaves with five wedge-shaped 1.5 in. leaflets. Toothed only above the middle. Densely silver hairy stems. Runners up to 20 in. long. Veined leaves.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Five small yellow petals above a ring of five green sepals; 0.5-0.6 in. blossom arises from the axis of the lowest leaf.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit detail
The fruit does not split open when dry.
Stem color
Green; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Erect stems, becoming prostrate and elongated. Will often root at the nodes. They are initially green, becoming red with age.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Northern America
Wildlife value
Members of the genus Potentilla support the following specialized bees: Andrena (Derandrena) ziziaeformis, and Panurginus potentillae. Wildlife is attracted to the flowers. Small bees and flies seek their nectar. Bees also collect the pollen. The seeds are eaten by birds. Rabbits and groundhogs often eat the leaves.