Sibbaldia tridentata
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Potentilla tridentata
- Sibbaldiopsis tridentata
- Phonetic Spelling
- sy-BAL-dee-uh try-den-TAY-ta
- Description
-
Three-toothed Cinquefoil is an evergreen herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the rose family (Rosaceae), native to the central and eastern United States, typically found along rocky and gravelly shores as well as in dry shale outcrops on prairie hillsides. It is native to the mountains of NC.
It is a low-growing, mat-forming perennial that grows 2 to 12 inches high and spreads 1 to 2 feet wide in full sun and well-drained sandy or rocky soils. It is adaptable to average well-drained garden soils. Divide every three to four years to prevent crowding. It is resistant to verticillium wilt and drought once established.
Three-toothed Cinquefoil has a cluster of flowers that may contain up to 25 white, five-petaled blooms that open at the terminal branches and the axils of the leaves, with the terminal buds opening first. Blooming occurs from June to August. The glossy leaves are compound with three leaflets.
Three-toothed Cinquefoil makes it a great groundcover or plant along patios and walkways. Grow in rock, crevice or pollinator gardens.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Problems: No significant problems
- 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. 2 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Habit/Form:
- Mounding
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The achene is dry with usually one seed and does not split open at maturity.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- 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. Bloom from June to August.
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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:
- Ovate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- 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. Each leaflet is 1.5 inch long and 1/2 inch wide and are oblanceolate with a tip that has three teeth.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Shredding
- Bark Description:
- The lower stems have shredded bark that is grey-brown.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- The stems are light green to red.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Rock Wall
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Specialized Bees
