Silvery Cinquefoil
Potentilla argentea
Also listed as Fragaria argentea, Hypargyrium argentatum
Also known as Silver Cinquefoil, Silverleaf Cinquefoil, Hoary Cinquefoil
Climate Match for your location
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A low-growing perennial with silvery-green foliage and small yellow flowers, ideal for dry sunny spots and rock gardens. Extremely hardy and drought-tolerant once established.
Why grow it
Silvery cinquefoil fills a specific niche in permaculture systems as a nitrogen-fixing groundcover that tolerates poor, infertile soils where many other perennials struggle. Compared to other low-growing Potentilla species, P. argentea's fine silvery foliage offers distinct visual interest in rock gardens and xeriscapes while providing early-season flowers for pollinators. Its combination of hardiness across cold zones and minimal fertility requirements makes it useful for stabilizing disturbed or marginal landscape areas without ongoing inputs.
Watch out for
While drought-tolerant when mature, establishment during the first season benefits from moderate watering during dry spells; newly planted specimens may struggle if immediately subjected to full drought stress. In favorable growing conditions with adequate moisture and rich soil, this plant can self-seed more prolifically than expected, so deadheading may be needed if spread is a concern.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Rosaceae
Native Range
Europe and western Asia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest 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 perennial with silvery-green foliage and small yellow flowers, ideal for dry sunny spots and rock gardens. Extremely hardy and drought-tolerant once established.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Silvery Cinquefoil grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Silvery cinquefoil fills a specific niche in permaculture systems as a nitrogen-fixing groundcover that tolerates poor, infertile soils where many other perennials struggle. Compared to other low-growing Potentilla species, P. argentea's fine silvery foliage offers distinct visual interest in rock gardens and xeriscapes while providing early-season flowers for pollinators. Its combination of hardiness across cold zones and minimal fertility requirements makes it useful for stabilizing disturbed or marginal landscape areas without ongoing inputs.
Watch out for
While drought-tolerant when mature, establishment during the first season benefits from moderate watering during dry spells; newly planted specimens may struggle if immediately subjected to full drought stress. In favorable growing conditions with adequate moisture and rich soil, this plant can self-seed more prolifically than expected, so deadheading may be needed if spread is a concern.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Rosaceae
Native Range
Europe and western Asia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest 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:
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