SHRUBS > POTENTILLA
IN THIS GUIDE
POTENTILLA GUIDES
PlantingPruning
Some plants have so many names that it can be hard to keep track of them , and potentilla is one such campaigner .
You ’ll see this plant multifariously referred to as potentilla , five-finger , five fingers , silverweeds , and more .
P. erecta
discombobulate further confusion into the mixing is that many varieties are visually alike , center on a root of being small , green bush with vigorous bouquets of yellow bloom .
What is sure , however , is that potentilla makes a pretty add-on to any garden .
Overview
PreferredFull Sun
ExposureExposed or shelter
Height0.1 – 0.5 M
P. erecta
Spread0.1 – 0.5 megabyte
Bloom TimeJune – September
PreferredMost Soil Types
MoistureMoist but well drain
pHAny
This genus contains an vague figure of plants – with estimates rove by source from three hundred to over five hundred – and there ’s contention about the characteristics whichshoulddefine membership .
As a current guide , Kew list 501 species of Potentilla.1Potentilla . ( n.d . ) . plant of the World Online . Retrieved July 31 , 2023 , fromhttps://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30000237-2#children
Some genus Potentilla have small berries which resemble strawberry mark – a plant to which they ’re closely relate – but the yield is small and uneatable .
All varieties have an elegant floral efflorescence , yet while the bulk are yellow , the overall colour palette varies wildly .
Why Grow Potentilla?
For a budding British gardener , this is the more crucial question .
We advocate growing genus Potentilla because it is attractive , varied , and well - suited to a wide ambit of garden backdrops .
Their low bush profile lend themselves nicely to border , while their bold colouration adds optical interest to flower beds and display .
P. fruticosa‘Tilford Cream’
Potentilla Varieties
There are potentially hundreds of different types of Potentilla .
Each of the three varieties below have been awarded the RHS Award of Garden Merit : an accolade indicating particular suitability to growth in British garden .
If you ’re wonder which potentilla to arise , you wo n’t go far wrong with one of these .
What do we consider of when we consider of royalty ?
sheer , purple colours , confidence , and more than a handful of atomic number 79 .
With these criteria in mind , it ’s not difficult to see where ‘ King Cup ’ got its name .
The rich yellow bloom that bursts forth in summer and stick around well into autumn set up the potentilla scene perfectly .
Here we have a mat - forming bush which spills intriguingly out onto the ground , leaving a green - scandalmongering app .
The dimension and overall aesthetic of the flatness would work well with a stone show , or to provide attractive ground cover somewhere in your garden that does n’t ask much of a vertical donation .
This multifariousness of genus Potentilla has white bloom with brilliant chickenhearted centres , rather than fully yellow flowers .
With ‘ Primrose Beauty ’ you’re able to get a good idea of the variations available within the potentilla colour palette .
Not every garden needs more yellow , but we think that any garden could do with a dah of genus Potentilla .
How To Grow Potentilla
If you ’re sold on genus Potentilla and want to get one produce in your garden , the next sections are for you .
We ’ll outline where to plant it , how often to water it , method of propagation , and much more .
The answer to this question will depend on the variety you choose .
Potentillas range in height from a few in to several foot , and have a likewise extensive range of breadth .
Take time to understand how liberal your kind is likely to get and opt a space in your garden consequently .
In terms of preferred climate and prospect , potentillas are very hardy and can defy lots of buffeting from the elements .
This cook them popular choices for beachfront properties , or garden that are very uncovered .
Your potentilla will do best in dirt that can drain well , with neutral or slightly acidic pH levels .
A spot with full sun will help to rear more flower growth , so bear this in mind if you ’re growing potentilla especially for its floral prime .
Plant Care
To encourage strong stem development keep your potentilla well watered during its first twelvemonth .
After that , the industrial plant is sturdy enough to stand drouth , but will appreciate watering in particularly ironic term .
To insure against various potential health problems ( addressed in particular later ) , seek your best to water the roots and soil only , rather than spraying the entire flora .
Damp foliage and leaves can make problem if they ’re unable to dry out out fully .
You do n’t want to deadhead the flowers on your genus Potentilla , as they ’re able to take concern of themselves .
Because of their shrubby nature , Potentilla bestow themselves well to snip to keep them in shape .
Do n’t do this until your plant is at least three years old , however , to ensure it ’s stiff enough to withstand the treatment .
Prune back older plants by a third of their total growth every few year to keep them tame and good for you .
“ As well as the bush , there are many metal money and cultivars of recurrent Potentilla , ” shares Colin Skelly , a Master Horticulturist .
“ These bet wondrous in borders mixed with other perennials and they are pop in cottage garden - style planting .
“ Flowering from late spring , these perennials will profit from deadheading , which will aid them to blossom aright through summer and even into former autumn . ”
In the altitude of summer you may take cutting from your genus Potentilla which , when cared for properly , will boom into new plants .
Keep an eye out for new growth barren of blossom with woody stems but around 15 atomic number 96 of lenient , green growth .
Then simply plant the cutting a few centimetres into a pot filled with compost , taking aid that the leaves do n’t touch the compost .
Cover with a plastic bag for the first few weeks , and then remove the bag once the cutting has had a chance to put out roots .
In the next uprise time of year your potentilla will be ready to be transplanted into your garden , following the step outlined above .
Common Problems
While broadly very hardy , there are a few problems that can affect potentilla . Here ’s what to look out for :
If you ’re too enthusiastic with watering your potentilla , it ’s possible the plant life will not be able to dry out by rights .
Damp leaves and foliation are particularly susceptible to mould and like types of rot .
murder touched portion of the plant before the job spreads is your best means of ascendency , but in this illustration , prevention really is the best curative .
In a similar vein , if the dirt is unable to debilitate the right way , your genus Potentilla ’s roots may begin to rot .
If this pass , it ’s very hard to reverse the course of the rot , and often the plant must be put away .
These pesky green critters love to banquet on the odorous fluid inside the leave of absence and stems of pretty much any plant they can get their hand on ( figuratively speak ) .
If you observe an unwelcome gather of dark-green ogre on the leaves of your genus Potentilla , here ’s what to do :
The myriad plants under the potentilla streamer offer an exciting and rewarding band of blossom for your garden .
Thanks to their hardiness , tractableness , and comprehensive compass of shapes , size , and colours , there ’s a extremity of the potentilla family well - beseem to the needs of any and all gardener .
Take care to select the right spotlight and raise your plant to health , and you ’ll be honor with a mature bloom that largely takes attention of itself .
