Shrubby Cinquefoil (Potentilla fruticosa)
The nectar and pollen of the bright yellow flowers of Shrubby Cinquefoil attract native bees (illinoiswildflower.info) and is the host plant for the specialist bees Andrena melanochroa, A. ziziaeformis, and Panurginus potentillae (Johnson and Colla, 2023). It is also the host plant to 18 species of butterflies and moths in our area (nwf.org). With the exception of goats, herbivores tend not to browse this shrub to any significant extent.
Photo credit: Cranbrook science (1)
Life Cycle: Perennial
Sun Exposure: Full, Partial (Prefers full sun for the best blooms)
Soil Moisture: Wet, Medium-wet, Medium-dry
Height: 3 feet
Plant Spacing: 18-24 inches
Bloom Time: June-Oct
Bloom Color: Yellow
Advantages: Caterpillar Favorite, Pollinator Favorite, Deer Resistant
Host Plant: 18 species of butterflies and moths use this as a caterpillar host plant in our area (nwf.org)
Specialist Bee: Andrena melanochroa, A. ziziaeformis, and Panurginus potentillae (Johnson and Colla, 2023)
Resource: Johnson, Lorraine, and Sheila Colla. A Northern Gardener’s Guide to Native Plants and Pollinators: Creating Habitat in the Northeast, Great Lakes, and Upper Midwest. Island Press, 2023
