Today's Flower - Shrubby Cinquefoil

Shrubby Cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Dakota Sunspot'
(poh-ten-TILL-uh) (froo-tih-KOH-suh)
Synonyms: ‘Fargo’, Shrubby Cinquefoil

This plant was living up to its ‘until frost’ blooming time last week. It really flowers best in early summer and then sporadically until the end of the season. This cultivar is far superior to the species. The flowers are a deeper yellow and its dwarf habit is nice. This plant came to the garden as a bonus mail order item when we ordered some rare rhododendrons from the west coast. It has been chugging along for the last 15 years and outlasted some of the Rhododendrons. I usually don’t recommend Potentilla for gardens since it is a leggy, somewhat ratty looking (at times) plant, however 'Dakota Sunspot' and ‘Primrose Beauty’ are two that are nice.

There is a lot of lore associated with this plant. The five leaflets per stem foliage is said to represent the senses of man. The foliage has also been used as heraldic device. It is also said if you sprinkle a few Cinquefoil leaves in your wallet or purse money will be drawn to you. Tea can be also be made from leaves (disclaimer: never tried it and wouldn’t without more research).

Here is a bonus flower since it is Sunday. See more flowers from all over the world at Today’s Flowers .


Japanese Clerodendrum
Clerodendrum trichotomum
(kler-oh-DEN-drum) (try-KOH-toh-mum)
Synonyms: Peanut Butter Shrub, Harlequin Glory Bower

This plant just sort of showed up one day and I have been enjoying ever since. It is a little bit of work keeping up the seedlings and suckers but worth it. It is a tall shrub that can be trained into a small tree. The flowers smell heavenly (bit like jasmine) and they are followed by a blue berries with a red calyx. The leaves have a tropical appearance and this plant attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.

Nepal Cinquefoil

Nepal Cinquefoil
Potentilla nepalensis 'Miss Willmott'
(poh-ten-TILL-uh) (nap-ahl-EN-sis)
Synonyms: Potentilla

This is one of the non-shrubby types of Potentilla. It has strawberry like foliage that can form a groundcover mat about 12 inches tall. The flower color is exceptional but they are small, maybe an inch in diameter. It likes full sun here and moist soil. There is a bit of a novelty effect since not many people have this plant in their gardens.

There is a lot of lore associated with Cinquefoil. One is if you take an egg and drain the contents and refill the shell with Cinquefoil leaves it will protect your house from evil spirits. It works better if you gather the leaves during the waxing moon. :lol:

Since it is Sunday and that means some extra flower lovers via Today’s Flowers here is a new Coreopsis variety I recently saw.

Threadleaf Coreopsis
Coreopsis 'Sienna Sunset'
(kor-ee-OP-sis)
Synonyms: Tickseed

'Sienna Sunset' is unlike any other Coreopsis I have seen. The color is amazing. It was developed right here in Connecticut at Sunny Border Nurseries. It grows to 12 to 18 inches tall and like other Coreopsis doesn’t require a lot of care when growing in the garden. It takes average soil and much the same as most perennials enjoys well-drained soil. It is best to shear them after their first wave of blooms and they come back strong with a second wave of flowers.

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