The non-poisonous cinquefoil is not only known as a hard-to-fight weed. Many species and cultivars are even planted as ornamental plants in gardens. What about the winter hardiness of these plants?

All varieties of cinquefoil are extremely hardy

All species tolerate frost

There are numerous more or less common species of cinquefoil. Most of them are low-growing and partly ground-covering plants that have typically fingered foliage and small flowers in summer.

The following species tolerate frost down to -29 °C in sheltered locations (down to -20 °C in unprotected locations).

  • Blood red cinquefoil (Potentilla atrosanguinea)
  • Bloodroot (Potentilla tormentilla)
  • Spring Cinquefoil (Potentilla neumanniana)
  • Gold cinquefoil (Potentilla aurea)
  • White cinquefoil (Potentilla alba)
  • Dwarf cinquefoil (Potentillabraunana)
  • Hill Cinquefoil (Potentilla collina)
  • Gray cinquefoil (Potentilla inclinata)
  • Reddish cinquefoil (Potentilla heptaphylla)

These species are also considered to be sufficiently frost hardy for our latitudes:

  • Cinquefoil prostrate (Potentilla anglica)
  • Cinquefoil (Potentilla incana)
  • Silver cinquefoil (Potentilla argentea)
  • Limestone cinquefoil (Potentilla caulescens)
  • Glacial cinquefoil (Potentilla frigida)
  • Small-flowered cinquefoil (Potentilla micrantha)
  • Medium cinquefoil (Potentilla intermedia)
  • Norwegian cinquefoil (Potentilla norvegica)
  • Cinquefoil (Potentilla recta)
  • Rock Cinquefoil (Potentilla rupestris)

The cinquefoil - an enviable frost hardiness

Of these perennials stands out the cinquefoil, which also belongs to the cinquefoils, although it is referred to as a 'shrub'. It is called Potentilla fruticosa in the botanical and surprises with an enormous winter hardiness of -45 °C! It is as good as unlikely that it will suffer frost damage - no matter where it is located.

Most cinquefoil species come from Europe

All cinquefoil species not only have excellent frost hardiness in common. Another thing they have in common is that they all find their home in Europe or parts of Europe. They also occur in many other areas of the world, such as in Asia and North Africa.

Before winter - pruning

Some cinquefoils should be cut back to just above the ground before the onset of winter. These include the deciduous species. The evergreen to evergreen species do not need pruning. With their leaves they protect themselves from snow and ice in winter.

tips

Cinquefoils can also be overwintered in pots outside on the balcony without any problems. You should only cover the planter with fleece when the temperature falls below -10 °C.

Category:

Herbs