Sibbaldia tridentata
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Potentilla tridentata
- Sibbaldiopsis tridentata
- Phonetic Spelling
- sy-BAL-dee-uh try-den-TAY-ta
- Description
-
Shrubby five-fingers or three-toothed cinquefoil is a perennial wildflower typically found along rocky and gravelly shores as well as in dry shale outcrops on prairie hillsides.
Each cluster of flowers may contain up to 25 white five petaled blooms that open at the tips of the stem and side branches with the terminal buds opening first. When grown from seed, it may take two years to produce flowers. Under ideal conditions, plants may live up to 10 years.
The attractive low growing form makes it a great groundcover or when planted on the outer edges of a planter it will give a spiller effect. Divide every three to four year period to prevent crowding.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Nuuk'
Divided into 3 leaflets.
- 'Nuuk'
- 'Nuuk'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Nuuk'
Divided into 3 leaflets.
- 'Nuuk'
- 'Nuuk'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Sibbaldia
- Species:
- tridentata
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Greenland to Northern Central & Eastern U.S.A
- Wildlife Value:
- Members of the genus Potentilla support the following specialized bees: Andrena (Derandrena) ziziaeformis, and Panurginus potentillae. Butterflies flowers attract butterflies.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 1 in. - 0 ft. 2 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Herb
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Mounding
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- 12 inches-3 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 2a
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- Hairy brown seeds are found in the sepal of each flower.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Crowded clusters of small white, oval to egg-shaped, five-petaled flowers. Each has a light green calyx with 5 ovate teeth, a dense cluster of pistils and 20-30 stamens.
-
-
Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Oblanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Compound leaf with three shiny leaflets. Three rounded teeth at the tip of each. The upper side of the leaf is a dark glossy green. The underside is a lighter green. Both covered with sparse hairs. They turn deep red in fall if grown in full sun.
-
-
Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Shredding
- Bark Description:
- The lower stems have shredded bark that is grey-brown.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- The lower stems are woody. The upper stems are not woody and light green to red.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Riparian
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Specialized Bees
