Rosaceae: Potentilla gracilis
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Family Name
Rosaceae
Common Name
Slender cinquefoil
Description
Potentilla gracilis is a perennial herbaceous plant growing 20 to 80 cm tall from a fibrous root system with slender, erect, and often slightly hairy, sometimes branched stems. The compound leaves typically have three to five slender, lanceolate to ovate leaflets, each 1.5 to 5 cm long and 0.5 to 2 cm wide, with finely serrated margins and petioles 1–5 cm long. The upper leaflet surface is medium to dark green with a smooth to slightly hairy texture, giving it a somewhat glossy appearance. The lower surface is lighter green, often paler or grayish-green, and usually has a more noticeable covering of fine hairs, giving it a soft, slightly fuzzy texture. The inflorescence is a loose cluster (cyme) of several bright yellow flowers blooming from June through August. The calyx consists of five lanceolate sepals, 4 to 7 mm long and 1.5 to 3 mm wide, often hairy along the edges with pointed tips that curve slightly outward, enclosing the flower before it opens. The flowers have five broadly ovate petals about 7 to 14 mm long and 5 to 10 mm wide. Numerous stamens with slender filaments approximately 3 to 5 mm long and bright yellow anthers surround the 20 to 40 pistils, which are clustered centrally, each 3 to 4 mm long with slender styles and small rounded stigmas. Fruit matures from August through September as an aggregate of small achenes, 2 to 3 mm long, tightly clustered after fertilization. Native to South Dakota, slender cinquefoil is commonly found in moist meadows, open woods, and along stream banks, especially in the central and western parts of the state.
Horticulture Notes
Seed Collection: Collect mature achenes in late summer.
Germination: Seeds require 60–120 days of cold-moist stratification (or fall sowing) to break dormancy.
Vegetative Propagation: Can be propagated by division or cuttings.
Soils: Prefers well-drained soils, sandy to loamy.
Light: Full sun to partial shade.
Water: Prefers moderate moisture; tolerates dry conditions once established.
Additional Notes
Slender cinquefoil plays a meaningful role both ecologically and horticulturally. Ecologically, it serves as an important early-season nectar source for a variety of native pollinators, including bees and butterflies, helping sustain these populations during critical periods. Horticulturally, slender cinquefoil is valued for its bright yellow flowers and delicate foliage, making it a popular choice for native plant gardens, wildflower meadows, and naturalized landscapes.