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Glase, Terry

Potentilla glandulosa

Potentilla glandulosa Lindl.

Sticky Cinquefoil

Rosaceae (Rose Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: POGL9

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

A leafy plant with several stems, often reddish and sticky with minute, glandular hairs, topped by yellow flowers in loose branched clusters. A variable, semi-woody species with many subspecies. The leaves are reminiscent of strawberry, but have more leaflets. They are pinnately compound. The rather small flowers vary from cream to yellow and occur in small, loose clusters. The upper stems have glandular hairs, hence the name. Overall height is from 1-2+ ft.

This attractive wildflower is common in the West and generally recognizable as a cinquefoil, a name ultimately deriving from Latin through French, meaning "five leaves"; some species have leaves with five leaflets. The genus differs from very similar-appearing species of buttercups (Ranunculus) in having a hypanthium. Some species hybridize; others reproduce asexually. Hybrids may reproduce asexually, and populations of intermediate plants are frequent. Identification of cinquefoil species is therefore difficult.

From the Image Gallery

3 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Fruit Type: Achene , Aggregate
Size Notes: Up to about 30 inches tall.
Leaf: Green
Fruit: Aggregated achenes.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Yellow
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct

Distribution

USA: AZ , CA , CO , ID , MT , NM , NV , OR , SD , UT , WA , WY
Canada: AB
Native Distribution: S.w. B.C. to Baja CA, e. to s.w. Alt., c. MT, CO & AZ
Native Habitat: Dryish to moist, open places from seashore to timberline

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Part Shade
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Soil Description: Variable.
Conditions Comments: Easy to grow but only the high-mountain races are considered showy.

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Propagation

Description: Propagate by divisions, seed or rooted stolons. Light is required during the seed germination process.
Seed Collection: The small achenes can be picked by hand.
Seed Treatment: Stratification and exposure to light may be necessary.
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Web Reference

Webref 37 - Calscape (2019) California Native Plant Society
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Potentilla glandulosa in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Potentilla glandulosa in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Potentilla glandulosa

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-02-23
Research By: TWC Staff

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