Potentilla recta aka Sulphur Cinquefoil

Potentilla recta is a perennial in the rose family. Its common names include sulfur cinquefoil and five-fingered cinquefoil. Its native range spans Europe and temperate parts of Asia. It also grows naturally in mountains of northern Africa. People accidentally brought it to North America in the late 1800s. It has since spread across the United States and Canada. It grows beside roads, in pastures, and on abandoned farmland.

This fast-growing plant forms a tuft with several upright stems. Garden plants reach 1–2.5 feet [0.30–0.76 metres] tall. Their spread can reach 2 feet [0.61 metres]. Young stems bear long white hairs that thin with age. Stems may be pale green, reddish green, or nearly white. The leaves grow alternately and get smaller toward the top. Lower leaves have five to nine narrow, toothed leaflets. Upper leaves have three to five, with short or absent stalks. Leaf tops range from green to gray-green; undersides are pale green.

Pale yellow flowers form flat clusters at the stem tips. Each flower has five heart-shaped petals and triangular sepals. Flowers measure about 0.04–0.08 feet [0.013–0.025 metres] across. The bloom season runs from May through August. The flowers attract pollinators and suit a pollinator garden. Plants spread by seed, which may sprout the same year. Seeds can also stay viable in soil for three years. Individual plants may live from one to ten years.

Grow this plant in full sun and well-drained soil. It accepts some shade, but cannot grow in full shade. It suits sandy, loamy, and clay soils, including coarse soils. Dry to moderately moist ground meets its needs. Established plants tolerate drought, and deer tend to avoid them. Sources place it in USDA zones 3–8. Hot, humid summers south of zone 8 may impair growth. It can fit borders, cottage gardens, and wildflower beds.

Its spread is the main concern when choosing a site. Self-sown plants can crowd out native plants and other vegetation. Use in naturalized areas requires care about this risk. Missouri Botanical Garden reports no major insect or disease problems. Plants For A Future lists fruit as edible raw or cooked. It also records past use of crushed stems and leaves on wounds. This historical use does not establish medical safety or benefit. That source reports no known hazards. NC State lists it as non-toxic to cats, dogs, and horses.