Sibbaldiopsis (Potentilla) tridentata – Three-Toothed Cinquefoil

General Information: A simple yet attractive, native, semi-evergreen, low-maintenance ground cover. This plant does best in dry habitats and thrives in poor soils with little competition. The miniature leaves create a dazzling display of reds and yellows in the fall. An alternate name is Wineleaf Potentilla, for the burgundy color of the leaves in fall. The long-lived summer blooms of this species are a welcome sight for both pollinators and growers. The plants often lose their leaves during the winter in northern areas, especially when exposed to harsh winds. Their durable and woody roots enable the more tender aboveground portions of the plant to regenerate quickly each spring. This plant tolerates light foot traffic but will begin to die back if trampled excessively. Three-Toothed Cinquefoil has been used as a medicine by Indigenous Peoples.

Cultivation Details: Consider Three-Toothed Cinquefoil in areas where not much else will grow. Exceptionally suitable for rock gardens, mountainous areas, or sandy barrens. Since these plants are commonly found on mountaintops and cliff balds, we suspect they would also tolerate urban rooftop plantings quite well. Plantings should be divided if they appear crowded.

Growing Requirements: Plant in full sun. Prefers dry sandy or thin rocky soils. Does not tolerate competition. Prefers dry and well-drained soils. Suitable for acidic and neutral soils. Does not tolerate alkaline soils.

Fun Facts: Originally placed in the genus Potentilla in the 1700s, more recent studies reclassified this plant as the sole species of the genus Sibbaldiopsis. Some botanists consider the genus Sibbaldiopsis (which means “appearing like Sibbaldia”) to be redundant and subsume the plant into the genus Sibbaldia.