Dasiphora fruticosa is a species of hardydeciduous flowering shrub in the familyRosaceae, native to the cool temperate and subarctic regions of the northern hemisphere, often growing at high altitudes in mountains. Dasiphora fruticosa is a disputed name, and the plant is still widely referenced in the horticultural literature under its synonym Potentilla fruticosa. Common names include shrubby cinquefoil, golden hardhack, bush cinquefoil, shrubby five-finger, tundra rose, and widdy.
Description
It grows to tall, rarely up to. The habit is variably upright to sprawling or prostrate, but stems are often ascending especially those stems with many long branches. The bark of older stems is shreddy with long thin strips. The plants are densely leafy, the leaves divided into five or seven pinnate leaflets. The leaflets are linear-oblong, long, with entire margins and more or less acute ends. The foliage is pubescent, variably covered in fine silky, silvery hairs about 1 mm long. The flowers are produced terminally on the stems and are cm across, buttercup-shaped, with five petals and 15–25 stamens; the petals are pale to bright yellow. The fruit is a cluster of achenes covered with long hairs. The species is variably dioecious or bisexual; flowering is typically from early to late summer. It is normally found growing in moisture-retentive soils in swamps and rocky areas. The plant is usually only eaten by wildlife when other food sources are scarce.
Dasiphora fruticosa subsp. floribunda Kartesz Raf., Pentaphylloides floribunda. Described from Canada, New York, and New Jersey, North America. Asia, southern Europe, and North America.
Numerous varieties have been described from Asia, some of which have not yet been published under the genus Dasiphora, and others in that genus only as distinct species. These include Potentilla fruticosa var. albicans Rehd. & Wils., P. f. var. arbuscula Maxim., P. f. var. dahurica Ser., P. f. var. pumila J.D.Hooker, P. f. var. mandschurica Wolf, and P. f. var. unifoliolata Ludlow. The varieties D. f. var. monticola Rydb. and D. f. var. tenuiloba Rydb. have been described from western North America, but are not widely accepted as distinct.
Cultivation and decorative uses
Shrubby cinquefoil is a popular ornamental plant in temperate regions. Different cultivars are variable with flowers ranging from white to yellow, orange and pink, but they are all hardy plants that produce flowers for much of the summer. The flowers are always small, flat, and round, but there are many dozens on each bush. It is very often used by cities and businesses for landscaping because of its hardiness and low maintenance. It was introduced into cultivation in the 18th century, but many of the modern cultivars, particularly those with orange or red flowers, derive from collections by Reginald Farrer in western China in the early 20th century. The vast majority of sellers and gardeners still use the old name Potentilla fruticosa. All the characteristics of small leaves, delicate flowers, and orange to brown flaky bark make the shrubby cinquefoil suitable for Bonsai. It is very popular in Japan and is gaining popularity in Europe.
Cultivars
Below is a recommended selection of over 130 cultivars which have been named. Those marked have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
'Abbotswood' - large white flowers and bluish green foliage.
'Beanii' - green foliage and white flowers.
'Chelsea Star' - small yellow flowers.
'Coronation Triumph' - medium-bright yellow flowers, plants are drought- and cold-tolerant and heavy bloomers.
'Daydawn' - salmon-pink flowers.
'Day Dawn Viette' - peach-soft rose flowers highlighted with cream.
'Primrose Beauty' - pale yellow flowers, silver tinted foliage; a good performer in the landscape with good habit and blooming, introduced in the Netherlands in 1955
'Pyrenaica' - prostrate, to 20 cm tall; leaves mostly with three leaflets; flowers golden yellow
'Red Ace' - bushy, upright shrub bearing profusions of single bright orange flowers from early summer to first frost
'Snowbird' - double flowers with 12–15 white petals. Blooms more than 'Abbotswood' and has dark green foliage
'Sommerflor' - golden yellow flowers
'Tangerine' - as 'Farreri', but with orange-red flowers
'Vilmoriniana' - vigorous, to 1.3 m tall; leaves grey-white hairy, flowers ivory white to pale yellow
'Walton Park' - flowers very large, 3.5–4 cm, golden yellow
'William Purdom' - leaves mostly with seven leaflets, flowers pale yellow
'Yellow Bird' - bright yellow semi-double flowers with 8–10 petals; medium green foliage and winter hardy, introduced from University of Manitoba
