The cinquefoil (bot. Potentilla fruticosa) is non-toxic, easy to care for, robust and also very floriferous. This makes it almost ideal for gardening beginners and family gardens. It is suitable for colorful perennial beds but also for planting a flowering hedge.
The cinquefoil feels most comfortable in a sunny location
Plant the cinquefoil properly
The cinquefoil grows and blooms best in full sun with fresh soil. This may well be a bit heavier, calcareous and rather poor in nutrients. The best time to plant is early spring and autumn, but you can basically plant the cinquefoil at any time of the year, provided the ground is not frozen.
Water and fertilize the cinquefoil
Since the cinquefoil needs neither many nutrients nor much water, its care is very easy. You should only water your young cinquefoil a little during a longer dry season. In the spring, give it some additional fertilizer. The cinquefoil will thank you for some additional nitrogen fertilizer in May or June with a rich bloom.
Prune the cinquefoil properly
The cinquefoil does not necessarily need regular pruning, but it also recovers quite well from a radical pruning. If it is in a mixed hedge, then aim your pruning measures at potentially more sensitive plants.
From time to time your cinquefoil may need a corrective pruning. This is best done in early spring. Cuts back in autumn are also well tolerated. If the shrub's willingness to flower decreases over the years, a vigorous pruning can have a stimulating effect.
The essentials in brief:
- easy to care for and robust
- Height of growth: approx. 50 to 130 cm depending on the species
- Growth habit: ground cover to bushy upright, heavily branched
- Flower color: yellow, white, orange or pink
- Flowering period: June to October
- Location: best in full sun
- Soil: poor in nutrients, calcareous, normal to heavy
- best planting time: spring or autumn
- water in case of prolonged drought
- fertilize rather little
- Pruning possible in autumn or spring
- vigorous pruning after a few years promotes flowering
- Propagation by cuttings possible
tips
The easy-care cinquefoil harmonises very well with other flowering shrubs such as the ornamental cherry weigela or the smoke bush, but also with perennials and/or roses.