Potentilla recta (Sulphur Cinquefoil): Minnesota Wildflowers

Potentilla recta (Sulphur Cinquefoil)

Plant Info
Also known as:	Rough-fruited Cinquefoil
Genus:	Potentilla
Family:	Rosaceae (Rose)
Life cycle:	perennial
Origin:	Europe
Habitat:	sun; fields, prairies, along roads
Bloom season:	June - August
Plant height:	12 to 30 inches
USDA PLANTS database:	Minnesota county distribution map

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Detailed Information

Flower:

Flowers are in loose flat clusters at the top of the plant and the end of stems branching near the top of the plant. Individual flowers are about ¾ inch across with 5 pale yellow heart-shaped petals that have a smudge of brighter yellow at the base. There are numerous yellow stamens with yellowish brown tips surrounding the bright yellow center.

Leaves and stem:

Leaves are palmately compound in groups of 3 to 7; leaves at the base of the plant have long stems and more leaflets, those near the top are smaller, have 3 leaflets and no leaf stem. Leaflets are rounded at the tip, tapering at the base, strongly toothed, hairy, up to 3 inches long and 1 inch wide with the middle leaflet largest. The main stem and leaf stems are covered in long white hairs.

Notes:

Sulphur Cinquefoil is easily identified by its pale yellow flowers and palmate leaves. It may resemble Tall Cinquefoil (Potentilla arguta), but it has white flowers and its leaves are not palmately compound.

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More photos

Photos taken at Long Lake Regional Park, New Brighton, MN June 2007 and 2009

Comments

Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?

Posted by: Dianne in Dakota County
on: 2009-07-12 22:04:04

This plant grows in southern Dakota county, MN. Seen in July 2009 in a farming area growing in partial shade. Photo available.

Posted by: Ann in Edina
on: 2011-07-02 18:40:29

I have seen only one plant along the path in Walnut Ridge Park which is near a swampy area which the north branch of Nine Mile Creek runs through.

Posted by: Alan in Brainerd
on: 2011-07-04 17:08:00

We have several of these plants now blooming in our wild flower meadow. Full sun.

Posted by: Denis in Palmer Twsp., Sherburne Co.
on: 2012-06-15 16:47:55

I have quite a lot of Cinquefoil that looks like this except that the flower is always yellow. In Fassett's, SPRING FLORA OF WISCONSIN, Potentilla recta is the only plant that has the leaf structure.

Posted by: K. Chayka
on: 2012-06-15 17:07:23

Denis, perhaps what you have is Potentilla simplex, common cinquefoil. The flowers are bright yellow and leaves have a similar structure, though it is more of a sprawling plant, not erect like P. recta.

Posted by: Jessica in Father Hennipen State Park
on: 2012-07-07 21:02:04

I have seen these in full sun on the side of the road in father hennipen park, they are very pretty

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