Sulfur Cinquefoil

Biological Name:

Potentilla recta (Sulfur-Cinquefoil)

Natural Habitat:

Sulfur-Cinquefoil: This plant is native to North America, where it can be found in a variety of habitats, including meadows, fields, and along roadsides.

Description:

Sulfur-Cinquefoil also known as Potentilla is a plant that is native to grassland and prairie regions of North America. It is a perennial herb that can grow up to two feet tall and it has small oval-shaped leaves and small yellow or white flowers that bloom in the summer. The plant is known for its sulfur-yellow flowers and it is often found in disturbed or degraded habitats.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is Sulphur cinquefoil used for?
A: Grass Roots Civil Defense claims that sulphur cinquefoil leaves can be used as a poultice and applied to burns, sores or wounds, and that the leaves can also be used to make a tea to treat dysentery, sore throat and diarrhea.
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Q: What are the benefits of Sulphur flowers?
A: Sulphur Flowers are an antiseptic and anti-fungal. It is suitable for use on humans, animals, vegetables, fruits, flowers and as a gardening additive in the soil. It is safe to ingest in the correct quantities and is extremely versatile, treating anything from acne to arthritis.
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Q: Is potentilla toxic to pets?
A: Potentilla is non-toxic and not poisonous to pets, livestock, or other animals.
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Q: Are cinquefoil flowers edible?
A: Like many weeds, cinquefoil was imported to North America from Europe because the settlers considered it a useful plant. For the Euell Gibbons fans: yes, young shoots and leaves of cinquefoil are edible in salads or cooked as a pot herb. Also, like most weeds, cinquefoil has been used medicinally in the past.
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Q: How do you apply sulphur to the garden?
A: Remove soil from around the base of existing plants to lower the pH, being careful not to disturb the plants’ roots. Mix 2 tsp. of sulfur per cup of soil that you remove. Replace the soil around the plants and water until the soil is moist but not sodden.
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Q: Is Sulfur cinquefoil an invasive?
A: It is invasive in grass fields or shrub-dominated areas. In King County, sulfur cinquefoil is most often found invading rocky or low-nutrient soils. It is found in pastures, roadsides, railroads, waste areas, and parks throughout King County. Plants are long-lived and highly persistent.
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Q: How do I get rid of cinquefoil in my lawn?
A: Pulling is a good solution if you don’t have a huge number of plants. Watering the area a day or two ahead makes weed pulling more effective because the weeds are easier to pull and you are more likely to get the entire taproot. The plant will regrow if you are unable to remove every bit of the taproot.
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Q: Do you cut back cinquefoil?
A: Cinquefoil is easy to care for, and a simple light yearly pruning should enable you to keep a cute, bushy bearing and stimulate the summer flowering. When the vegetation phase starts up, lightly prune the plant to give it a nice shape.
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Q: Is cinquefoil an annual or perennial?
A: Cinquefoils are chiefly perennial and have stems that are creeping or erect. The leaves are palmately compound (the leaflets arise from a common centre) or pinnately compound (feather-formed). The solitary five-petaled flowers are usually yellow, sometimes white or red in horticultural varieties.
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Q: Where does Potentilla grow best?
A: Full sun to partial shade. Plants will flower best with at least 6 hours of full sun. Some afternoon shade in warmer climates will help keep plants blooming longer and the flowers from fading.
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Q: How tall does cinquefoil grow?
A: Growth Characteristics: Shrubby cinquefoil is a deciduous, multi-stemmed and many branched shrub, reaching heights of 1 to 6.5 feet.
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Q: Is creeping cinquefoil poisonous?
A: These members of the Potentilla genus have no known hazards but are high in tannins which make them taste unpleasant. They also contain the bitter glycoside tormentilline and so should only be offered in moderation.
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Q: What herbicide kills cinquefoil?
A: Glyphosate (marketed as RoundUp® and many other brands) can be applied to actively growing plants before flowering. Repeat applications may be needed. Glyphosate will kill grass and other vegetation so care should be taken if used around desired vegetation.
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Q: How do you get rid of common cinquefoil?
A: Pulling is a good solution if you don’t have a huge number of plants. Watering the area a day or two ahead makes weed pulling more effective because the weeds are easier to pull and you are more likely to get the entire taproot. The plant will regrow if you are unable to remove every bit of the taproot.
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Q: How do you remove Sulphur from cinquefoil?
A: Chemical Control » Selective broadleaf herbicides are most effective when applied in the spring or early summer. » The following herbicides provide effective control of sulphur cinquefoil: picloram, 2,4-D, combination of picloram/2,4-D, and aminopyralid.
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Q: How do I get rid of Pellitory?
A: Mulching: During the seed stage, covering with sawdust, straws or black mulches to effectively inhibit seed germination and the growth of the seedling. … Pulling out: Before the weeds fructify, wear gloves or use tools to pull them out.
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Q: Is Sulfur cinquefoil edible?
A: Like many weeds, cinquefoil was imported to North America from Europe because the settlers considered it a useful plant. For the Euell Gibbons fans: yes, young shoots and leaves of cinquefoil are edible in salads or cooked as a pot herb. Also, like most weeds, cinquefoil has been used medicinally in the past.
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Q: Are Potentilla and cinquefoil the same?
A: Potentilla, also called shrubby cinquefoil or bush cinquefoil, is one of the most popular landscape shrubs. It is valued for its long bloom time, exceptional hardiness, and carefree nature.
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Q: What does cinquefoil smell like?
A: The center of the flower has a somewhat flattened reproductive structure, which is surrounded by about 20 stamens. The blooming period can occur from spring to mid-summer, and lasts about a month. Only a few flowers are in bloom at the same time. There is no noticeable floral scent.
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Q: Is cinquefoil an herb?
A: Potentilla simplex, also known as common cinquefoil or old-field five-fingers or oldfield cinquefoil, is a perennial herb in the Rosaceae (rose) family native to eastern North America from Ontario, Quebec, and Labrador south to Texas, Alabama, and panhandle Florida.
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Q: What does a cinquefoil symbolize?
A: In heraldry, the cinquefoil emblem or potentilla signified strength, power, honor, and loyalty.
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About the author

Samuel is a gardening professional and enthusiast who has spent over 20 years advising homeowners and farm owners on weed identification, prevention and removal. He has an undergraduate degree in plant and soil science from Michigan State University.