Shrubby cinquefoil 'King Cup' Potentilla fruticosa 'King Cup'

👤 Non-toxic to humans
🐾 Non-toxic to pets
🌸 Blooming
🍪 Not edible
‍🌱 Easy-care
shrubby cinquefoil 'King Cup'

ABOUT

'King Cup' is a tall deciduous shrub, the pinnate leaves with broad leaflets, with bright golden-yellow flowers in summer and autumn

Plant Info
Care
Common Problems

About this plant

  • memoNames

    • Family

      Rosaceae.

    • Synonyms

      Shrubby Cinquefoil, Bush Cinquefoil, Golden Hardhack, Potentilla, Widdy.

    • Common names

      Dasiphora fruticosa, Pentaphylloides fruticosa, Potentilla floribunda, Potentilla fruticosa var. floribunda, Potentilla fruticosa var. simplicifolia, Potentilla fruticosa var. tenuifolia

  • infoCharacteristics

    • Life cycle

      Perennials

    • Foliage type

      Deciduous

    • Color of leaves

      Green

    • Flower color

      Yellow

    • Height

      2-4 feet (0.6-1.2 meters)

    • Spread

      2-4 feet (0.6-1.2 meters)

    • Plant type

      Shrub

    • Hardiness zones

      2-6

    • Native area

      Asia

Benefits

  • money-bagGeneral Benefits

    • Drought Tolerance: Potentilla fruticosa 'King Cup' can survive in dry conditions once established, making it suitable for xeriscaping and low-water gardens.
    • Low Maintenance: This shrub requires minimal care beyond occasional pruning to keep its shape and promote new growth.
    • Attracts Wildlife: The flowers provide nectar for pollinators such as bees and butterflies, enhancing biodiversity.
    • Long Blooming Season: It has a long flowering season, often from early summer until the first frosts, offering prolonged visual interest.
    • Cold Hardy: This plant is capable of withering cold temperatures, making it ideal for northern climates and high-altitude gardens.
    • Versatility in Landscaping: It can be used in a variety of settings, including borders, foundation plantings, and as a ground cover.
    • Wide Range of Soil Adaptability: Potentilla fruticosa 'King Cup' can grow in a variety of soil types, from sandy to loamy and even clay soils.
    • Resistance to Pests and Diseases: It is generally resistant to pests and diseases, reducing the need for chemical treatments.
    • Fast Growing: This plant grows relatively quickly, which can be beneficial for those wanting to establish a garden or landscape area in a short amount of time.
    • Aesthetic Appeal: It adds visual appeal to any garden with its bright yellow flowers and lush green foliage.

  • medicalMedical Properties

    • This plant is not used for medical purposes.

  • windAir-purifying Qualities

    This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.

  • leavesOther Uses

    • Dye production: The root of King Cup may contain tannins that can be used in the natural dyeing process of fabrics, giving a range of colors from yellows to rich browns.
    • Wildlife garden plant: King Cup can serve as an attractive plant in wildlife gardens designed to attract and support bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.
    • Soil stabilization: Its dense root system helps prevent soil erosion, making it a suitable plant for planting on slopes or in erosion-prone areas.
    • Hedge or border plant: With its compact growth habit, it can be used to create low, informal hedges or garden borders without blocking views.
    • Winter garden interest: Since King Cup can retain its structure during the winter, it can be used to add interest to gardens during the colder months.
    • Thematic landscaping: This plant fits well in rock gardens or xeriscaped areas due to its drought tolerance and ability to thrive in poor soils.
    • Companion planting: It can be planted alongside other perennials that require similar growing conditions, aiding in overall garden design cohesion.
    • Bonsai cultivation: King Cup can be trained as a bonsai, offering an interesting challenge to enthusiasts of miniature tree cultivation.
    • Educational tool: It can be used in educational settings such as schools or botanical gardens to demonstrate plant growth, pollination, and the ecosystem's plant-insect interactions.
    • Fall foliage display: King Cup can provide seasonal colors as its leaves may change color before falling off, enhancing the autumnal palette of a garden.

Interesting Facts

  • bedFeng Shui

    The plant_name is not used in Feng Shui practice.

  • aquariusZodiac Sign Compitability

    The plant_name is not used in astrology practice.

  • spiralPlant Symbolism

    • Longevity: Potentilla fruticosa, commonly known as Shrubby Cinquefoil, is a hardy plant that can survive in tough conditions, which can symbolize the ability to withstand the test of time.
    • Resilience: Due to its robust nature and adaptability to different soils and climates, Shrubby Cinquefoil represents resilience and the ability to recover from hardships.
    • Attraction: With its bright yellow flowers, Shrubby Cinquefoil is often associated with attraction and the power to captivate or draw in positive energies.
    • Happiness: The cheerful yellow blooms are symbolic of joy, happiness, and the celebration of life.
    • Simplicity: The modest and unassuming appearance of the Shrubby Cinquefoil can symbolize simplicity and appreciation for the simple pleasures in life.

💧
Every 2-3 weeks
Water
☀️
2500 - 10000 Lux
Light
💦️
40%
Humidity
🪴
Every 2-3 years
Repotting
🌱️
Early Spring
Propogation
✂️️
As needed
Pruning
  • water dropWater

    Shrubby Cinquefoil prefers consistent moisture, so aim to water it deeply once a week, providing about 1 to 1.5 gallons per watering session for an established plant. During hot, dry spells, increase watering frequency to twice a week. In cooler weather or when rainfall is ample, you can reduce the amount accordingly. It's important not to let the soil become waterlogged, so ensure good drainage. Adjust watering habits seasonally, keeping in mind that plants in containers may require more frequent watering than those in the ground.

  • sunLight

    Shrubby Cinquefoil thrives in full sun to partial shade, making it versatile for various garden spots. The ideal location would provide at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day, encouraging the best flowering and compact growth. However, it can tolerate light shade, especially in regions with very intense sunlight.

  • thermometerTemperature

    Shrubby Cinquefoil is hardy and can withstand a wide temperature range. It can survive minimum winter temperatures down to -40°F, making it suitable for many climates. The ideal growing conditions for the plant are within the range of 60°F to 70°F. It's a robust plant that can handle the heat as well, but extreme heat may stress the plant, so ensure adequate watering during hot periods.

  • scissorsPruning

    Shrubby Cinquefoil should be pruned to maintain shape and promote vigorous growth. The best time to prune is in late winter or early spring before new growth starts. Cut back about a third of the old branches to the ground annually to rejuvenate the plant. Pruning after flowering minimizes cutting off buds for the next season and helps maintain a more natural-looking shape.

  • broomCleaning

    As needed

  • bambooSoil

    For Shrubby Cinquefoil (Potentilla fruticosa 'King Cup'), the best soil mix is well-draining with high organic content. A blend of garden soil, compost, and perlite or sand is ideal. This plant prefers a slightly acidic to neutral pH, ranging from 6.0 to 7.0.

  • plantRepotting

    Shrubby Cinquefoil (Potentilla fruticosa 'King Cup') is a hardy shrub that typically does not require frequent repotting. It may need to be repotted or divided every few years if it outgrows its space or seems crowded.

  • water dropsHumidity & Misting

    Shrubby Cinquefoil (Potentilla fruticosa 'King Cup') is tolerant of a wide range of humidity levels and does not have specific humidity requirements, making it adaptable to average outdoor conditions.

  • pinSuitable locations

    • Indoor

      Not ideal for indoor, requires full sun, hardy outdoor shrub.

    • Outdoor

      Full sun, well-drained soil, tolerates various conditions, hardy.

    • Hardiness zone

      2-7 USDA

  • circleLife cycle

    Potentilla fruticosa 'King Cup', also known as Shrubby Cinquefoil, begins its life cycle as a seed, which germinates in spring when the soil warms up. Once the seedling emerges, it develops a root system and foliage, entering a vegetative stage where it focuses on growth. The juvenile phase continues until it has matured enough to begin flowering, usually in its second or third year. During the reproductive stage, the plant blooms prolifically throughout summer, with bright yellow flowers that attract pollinators. After pollination, seeds are produced and dispersed, allowing for the continuation of the life cycle. During winter, Shrubby Cinquefoil becomes dormant, with above-ground plant parts dying back in colder climates or persisting in milder ones, only to resume growth the following spring.

  • sproutPropogation

    • Propogation time

      Early Spring

    • The most popular method for propagating the Potentilla fruticosa 'King Cup', also known as Shrubby Cinquefoil, is through semi-hardwood cuttings. This process is typically done in the late summer. To propagate, one would cut a 4 to 6-inch (10 to 15 cm) length of stem that has matured slightly but is not fully hardened. The leaves on the lower half of the cutting are removed and the cut end is dipped in a rooting hormone to encourage root development. The prepared cutting is then inserted into a pot filled with a well-draining soil mix, ensuring that at least two leaf nodes are beneath the soil surface. The pot is placed in a warm, brightly lit area but out of direct sunlight, and the soil is kept moist until the cutting has rooted, which usually takes several weeks.