cm.jpg "Abbotswood Potentilla (Potentilla fruiticosa)
Paul S Drobot")
| Description | Abbotswood Potentilla is one of the better white flowering Potentilla. |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | (po-ten-TIL-a)(fro-ti-KO-sa) |
| Plant Type | Shrubs Deciduous, Site author's observations |
| Hardiness Zone | 3-7 |
| Sunlight | full, will tolerate some shade but flower production is reduced |
| Moisture | average, tolerates moist (not wet) areas, will show stress in draught conditions and benefits from some additional water at these times |
| Soil & Site | average |
| Flowers | white, single |
| Fruit | achene |
| Leaves | dark bluish green leaves |
| Dimensions | 3-4 feet tall by equal spread |
| Maintenance | All of the Potentilla need to be pruned back yearly or every other year, to no longer than a 3 year cycle. If not, they will become scraggly, have lots of old gnarly stems and flower production will decrease. There are three methods of pruning these. Method #1 consists of using a hedge shears and shear the plant into some miss shaped geometric figure. This is the least desirable, doesn't help the plant much and does little for increasing flower production. Method #2 consists of cutting the shrub close to the ground, leaving 3-6 inches of stem. Seems harsh but a healthy shrub will quickly regrow. This is a no brainier method. Methods #3 consists of removing the gnarly old stems as close to the ground as possible, using pruning shears, cut the shrub back about 1/3 - 1/2. I do this in a shape that will resemble the natural form of the shrub. The earlier in the spring this is done, the sooner the plant will flower. One of my clients has me prune back these shrubs each year, since she likes the fresh, new growth of the shrub. After it is done blooming many people like to remove the dried seed heads. This is a matter of choice. I usually do it |
| Propagation | softwood cuttings |
| Misc Facts | AKA: Shrubby Cinquefoil |
| Author's Notes | I have used many dozens of this Potentilla in my landscape jobs over the past 25 years. It has proven to be tough and a very reliable prolific bloomer. |
| Notes & Reference | #01-Manual of Woody Landscape Plants (Michael Dirr) |
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