Potentilla tridentata Minima - Cinquefoil

Potentilla tridentata Minima is an adorable small evergreen ground cover perennial, which has the advantage of maintaining a very beautiful appearance throughout the year. Its bright green foliage, resembling that of a strawberry, is adorned in summer with delicate white flowers, reminiscent of pear trees, before turning purple in the autumn. Its thin and ramified stems spread endlessly among the bushes, along the pathways, where few plants are willing to grow. This perennial can adapt to all ordinary soils that are moist or even dry. A blessing for quickly covering difficult areas and rockeries, in full sun or partial shade!

Potentilla tridentata, recently renamed Sibbaldiopsis tridentata, belongs to the Rosaceae family. This plant, which thrives in cold climates and rather poor soils, is native to the northeastern United States, eastern Canada (including Quebec), Greenland, and the French archipelago of Saint Pierre and Miquelon. 'Minima', from which it originates, is a horticultural variety selected for its more modest growth. It is a herbaceous perennial, woody at the base, forming a low and compact tuft, 10 cm (4 in) tall with a minimum spread of 50 cm (20 in). Its foliage is very shiny green and generally evergreen, before taking on a beautiful burgundy to mahogany-red colour in the autumn and winter. The leaves are divided into three lobes, each with dentate tips. Flowering takes place in summer from June to August, with possible reblooming in the autumn. The flowers appear on loose and ramified stems, at the tips of the branches. They are typical of Rosaceae flowers, as can be observed on pear trees, plum trees or cherry trees. However, they are completely white, measuring about 1 cm (0.4 in) in diameter, and also have white stamens.

This practical ground cover grows everywhere, suffocates weeds, and is the equivalent of periwinkle, Geranium nodosum, ivy, Hypericum calycinum, and Waldsteinia ternata, but in full sun or partial shade. It will also thrive along a sunny pathway, at the base of shrubs or tall trees, the roots of which it is not afraid of. Finally, to brighten up the base of roses, it will keep good company with perennial geraniums ('Ann Folkard', Endressi), Oenothera speciosa ('Alba' or 'Rosea'), Erigeron karvinskianus, or Teucrium chamaedrys. It is a perfect plant for wild gardens, weekend gardens, or gardens without gardeners. It is also used in green roofs.