Marsh Cinquefoil
Comarum palustre
Also listed as Potentilla palustris, Fragaria palustris
Also known as Purple Marsh Cinquefoil, Purple Marshlocks, Marsh Five-fingers
Climate Match for your location
See how well Marsh Cinquefoil grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
A low-growing wetland perennial with dark red flowers and cinquefoil-like foliage, thriving in boggy or marshy conditions. It spreads via rhizomes and is valued for naturalistic water gardens and pond margins.
Why grow it
Marsh cinquefoil offers reliable color and texture in permanently wet sites where many ornamentals struggle, particularly where standing water or seasonal flooding occurs. Unlike some cinquefoil species that prefer drier conditions, this species thrives in boggy ground without supplemental drainage, making it useful for rain gardens and pond restoration. Its deep red flowers provide visual interest in wetland plantings where flowering plants are relatively limited.
Watch out for
In ideal conditions, the rhizomatous spread can become vigorous and may outcompete neighboring plants in confined garden spaces, requiring periodic division to maintain desired planting density. Container-grown specimens may dry out quickly if moved to upland sites, as the plant's physiology is adapted to consistent moisture rather than typical garden soil moisture patterns.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Rosaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Northern temperate regions, Europe and North America
Native to: Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A low-growing wetland perennial with dark red flowers and cinquefoil-like foliage, thriving in boggy or marshy conditions. It spreads via rhizomes and is valued for naturalistic water gardens and pond margins.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Marsh Cinquefoil grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Marsh cinquefoil offers reliable color and texture in permanently wet sites where many ornamentals struggle, particularly where standing water or seasonal flooding occurs. Unlike some cinquefoil species that prefer drier conditions, this species thrives in boggy ground without supplemental drainage, making it useful for rain gardens and pond restoration. Its deep red flowers provide visual interest in wetland plantings where flowering plants are relatively limited.
Watch out for
In ideal conditions, the rhizomatous spread can become vigorous and may outcompete neighboring plants in confined garden spaces, requiring periodic division to maintain desired planting density. Container-grown specimens may dry out quickly if moved to upland sites, as the plant's physiology is adapted to consistent moisture rather than typical garden soil moisture patterns.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Rosaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Northern temperate regions, Europe and North America
Native to: Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Similar ground covers you might consider:
Enter your ZIP code to see top native species and strong climate fits for you.