Cinquefoil (Potentilla neumanniana 'Nana')
Discover Potentilla neumanniana 'Nana', a low-growing Cinquefoil perfect for ground cover needing Zones 4-8 and low maintenance.
Scroll down to discover growing tips, care requirements, companion plants, and more
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Potentilla neumanniana ‘Nana’, commonly known as Cinquefoil, is a superb, low-profile selection ideal for dense ground cover applications in temperate gardens. This vigorous, mat-forming perennial offers bright, buttery-yellow flowers starting early in the spring, making it a valuable sight when little else is blooming. It typically stays prostrate, growing only a few inches tall while spreading horizontally to form a tight mat.
This dwarf cultivar, Potentilla neumanniana ‘Nana’, is exceptionally hardy and requires minimal intervention once established, appealing greatly to low-maintenance gardening styles. Its deep green, palmate foliage provides year-round textural interest, complemented by abundant spring blooms.
For gardeners seeking a tough, spreading plant to manage slopes or fill in between hardscaping, this Cinquefoil serves as an excellent, reliable option. Its impressive winter hardiness ensures success across a broad range of climates, especially where summers remain cool.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Rosaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4-8
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 0.25-0.5 ft
- Spread: 0.5-1 ft
- Bloom Time: April to June
- Bloom Description: Yellow
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
Start planting Potentilla neumanniana ‘Nana’ in spring or early fall, aiming for locations that offer full sun exposure, as heavy shade will diminish flowering performance. This variety thrives in sandy to loamy soils, provided they are moist but possess excellent drainage. While established plants exhibit respectable drought tolerance, consistent medium watering is necessary during the initial establishment period.
Maintenance for this Cinquefoil is commendably low. Generally, fertilizing is unnecessary unless the soil is extremely poor. Pruning is seldom required, though you can trim back any wayward growth sparingly in early spring.
This plant benefits significantly from the cooler summer climates found north of USDA Zone 7; performance can suffer in excessively hot and humid conditions further south. Due to its excellent winter hardiness, significant winter preparation is usually not needed in its appropriate zones. If desired, Potentilla neumanniana ‘Nana’ can be easily propagated by division in either spring or early fall.
Landscape Uses
The procumbent, mat-forming habit of this dwarf Cinquefoil makes it an outstanding, evergreen-like ground cover, especially effective for covering banks or slopes where lawn maintenance is impractical. It excels as a classic rock garden plant due to its petite size and preference for well-drained conditions. Consider employing it along border fronts for a neat, tidy edge that stays low to the ground.
Potentilla neumanniana ‘Nana’ also functions beautifully as a tough lawn substitute in areas that receive no foot traffic, offering color where turfgrass struggles. Furthermore, its dense creeping nature allows it to tuck neatly between stepping stones or flagstones, softening hard edges in pathways.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Potentilla neumanniana, commonly known as spring cinquefoil, spotted cinquefoil or alpine cinquefoil, features a vigorous, procumbent, mat-forming habit characteristic of the rose family, typically growing only 2-4” tall but spreading a foot wide or more. It presents 5-7 palmate, deep green leaves contrasted by small, 5-petaled, buttery-yellow flowers that bloom abundantly in loose clusters starting in April and May. This plant is notable for being one of the first cinquefoils to flower in the spring, and the ‘Nana’ cultivar maintains this low stature, offering spicy-scented, shiny palmate leaves.
Tolerances
- Deer
- Drought
Potential Problems
Gardeners should find that Potentilla neumanniana ‘Nana’ rarely suffers from serious insect infestations or common garden diseases. Its robust nature means preventative chemical treatments are usually unnecessary. Monitor overly wet conditions, as poor drainage is the primary factor that encourages future issues, though the plant naturally prefers moist, well-drained settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Cinquefoil suitable for?
Potentilla neumanniana ‘Nana’ is winter hardy across USDA Zones 4 through 8.
How large does Potentilla neumanniana ‘Nana’ grow?
This cultivar typically reaches a height between 0.25 and 0.5 feet tall, spreading outwards to cover an area between 0.5 and 1 foot wide.
When does Cinquefoil bloom?
This early spring bloomer produces its vibrant yellow flowers from April into June.
What sun exposure does Potentilla neumanniana ‘Nana’ need?
This Cinquefoil performs best when given full sun, though it tolerates light shade; it will not thrive in full shade.
Conclusion
The Potentilla neumanniana ‘Nana’ Cinquefoil provides exceptional value through its dense coverage, early spring color, and remarkably low maintenance requirements. Its hardiness across Zones 4-8 makes it a versatile evergreen staple for low borders and rockeries. Take advantage of its ease of care by planning to incorporate this tough ground cover into your landscape beds this coming spring or fall.
Propagation Tips
Propagating Potentilla neumanniana ‘Nana’ is straightforward, making it easy to expand your coverage quickly. The most common and effective method is division, best performed either in the spring just as new growth begins, or in early fall before the ground freezes. Carefully lift a mature clump and gently separate it into smaller sections ensuring each piece retains healthy roots and foliage.
Alternatively, because the stems are decumbent and root readily where they touch the soil, you can lightly cover sections of the runners with a thin layer of soil during the growing season to encourage natural rooting. This plant may also reseed itself under optimum growing conditions, lightly scattering new progeny across the garden over time.
Companion Planting
When designing with this early-blooming Cinquefoil, consider companions that either complement its low stature or fill in vertical space once the Cinquefoil’s bloom fades. Low-growing bulbs like early Daffodils or Snowdrops pair beautifully, as they emerge just before or alongside the yellow flowers of the Potentilla neumanniana ‘Nana’.
For summer interest, pair this ground cover with medium-height perennials that enjoy similar sun and soil needs, such as Creeping Thyme or low varieties of Sedum. These companions respect the spread of the Cinquefoil without smothering its low-growing form, ensuring visual appeal throughout the season in your rock gardens or border fronts.
