Wildflowers of the United States

Home Journal Family Index - All States Photo Albums News About Privacy

Common Cinquefoil, Decumbent Five-finger, Old Field Cinquefoil - Potentilla simplex


Family: Rosaceae - Rose family Genus Common Name: Cinquefoil Native Status: NativeDicot Perennial Herb
Potentilla simplex - Common Cinquefoil, Decumbent Five-finger, Old Field Cinquefoil. There is a Potentilla species found in every state in the U.S. except Hawaii, and in every province in Canada. Potentilla simplex is a species of the eastern half of North America, being found from the plains states to the east coast, excluding Florida. This plant, while native to the United States and Canada, can be weedy and is listed in the USDA Introduced, Invasive, and Noxious Plants list.

Found in:
AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV

Leave comments on Potentilla simplex at this link.
Potentilla simplex

Distribution of Potentilla simplex in the United States and Canada:
Map unavailable.
Map courtesy of The Biota of North America Program.
Map color key

Search Our Database: Enter any portion of the Scientific, Common Name, or both.
Scientific name:
Common name:

Example: Enter "lob" in the common name field and you'll get all our species that have "lobelia" in the common name, as well as "sharp-lobed hepatica".

Do a general Google search of the entire site:


#ad

Follow on Twitter
Follow USWildflowers on Twitter





#ad
Site: Walker County, GA Date: 2013-May-17Photographer: Gerald C. Williamson
Nikon D7000
Tamron SP 90MM f/2.8 AF Macro
The leaf of Potentilla simplex is palmately compound with 5 leaflets (from which comes the common name Cinquefoil.) The leaflets are up to 3 inches long and are toothed for about two-thirds the distance from the tip. Potentilla canadensis - Dwarf Cinquefoil - is similar, but rarely grows more than 4 inches tall, and the leaves are shorter (up to 1.5 inches long) and toothed only for half their length.
Potentilla simplex

Site: Walker County, GA Date: 2013-May-17Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000
Potentilla simplex has 5 yellow petals that have a narrow base but quickly widen to a rounded tip. The tip is usually somewhat notched in the center, giving the petal a heart shape.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Potentilla simplex

Site: Walker County, GA Date: 2013-May-17Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000
The green sepals of Potentilla simplex are somewhat shorter than the petals. The blossom is on a pedicel arising from the leaf node. The stem and pedicel may be nearly glabrous to quite hairy. The stem turns red with age.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Potentilla simplex

Site: Walker County, GA Date: 2013-May-17Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000
The petals surround around 20 stamens.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Potentilla simplex

Site: Walker County, GA Date: 2013-May-17Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000
Common Cinquefoil rarely grows more than a foot tall, although I have seen them taller. It is stoloniferous, with the stolons running along the ground for 3 feet or more. Multiple plants’ stolons can crisscross each other, forming mats.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Potentilla simplex

References used for identification and information:
#ad
Potentilla simplex initially published on USWildflowers.com 2013-05-31; Updated 2017-03-02

Commercial / Cookie Notice

Looking for Wildflowers for a specific state? Check here:



All content except USDA Plants Database map Copyright Gerald C. Williamson 2024
Photographs Copyright owned by the named photographer



Code Update 20230302