Potentilla fruticosa Bellissima - Shrubby Cinquefoil

Potentilla fruticosa Bellissima ('Hachliss') brings a breath of fresh air to the world of shrubby potentillas. This very recent variety stands out for its naturally compact habit that does not require pruning, as well as for the vibrant and long-lasting colour of its small bright pink flowers. With its beautifully rounded habit, this bush delivers a very long flowering period, adorning its dark green foliage with small naive flowers that exude freshness. Easy to grow, very hardy, requiring little maintenance, this deciduous shrub fits in anywhere, in flower beds as well as in large pots on a terrace. It is a highly rewarding plant, and almost fail-safe in well-drained soil. 

Potentilla fruticosa is a woody shrub that belongs to the Rosaceae family, just like roses. This variety was recently obtained and selected in Germany by Holger Hachmann. It is a particularly hardy deciduous shrub. Bellissima has a bushy and rounded habit with very dense vegetation. At maturity, the plant will measure approximately 60 cm (23.6 in) in all directions. Its slender and ramified branches, brown in colour and peeling with age, bear deciduous foliage. The small size of the leaves, divided into narrow leaflets, gives a beautiful lightness to the dark green silhouette. A slight white hairiness on the underside of the leaves gives a silky and slightly silver appearance. Its delicate flowers, rather large for the species, are cup-shaped with a diameter of 4 cm (1.6 in), with five petals of an almost fluorescent pink that does not fade in the sun. The centre of the flower is occupied by golden stamens. The abundant flowering, starting in June and lasting until summer, is generally more intense at the beginning of summer and loses some of its vigour as the season progresses, depending on the freshness of the soil.

In full sun, potentillas deliver flowers with more vibrant colours, while in partial shade, the colour will be slightly less intense. Trouble-free plants, generous and beautifully coloured, potentillas are ideal for effortlessly brightening up the garden or balcony for a long time. With their wild rose-like appearance and their very modest requirements, they can be used in multiple ways and installed anywhere: in flower beds, rockeries, borders, low hedges, containers, etc. They will grow under most climates and in any well-drained soil. 

Potentilla fruticosa Bellissima ('Hachliss') will have a beautiful effect when paired with Dahlias, shrubby salvias, yarrows, Gaura, Perovskia, perennial flax, Oriental poppies or large daisies. It blends ideally with Mediterranean plants (Lavender, Rosemary, Rockrose, Fennel, Helichrysum, Teucrium) for a warm and fragrant atmosphere. To create a striking scene, choose plants with a more slender or tousled habit (Phormiums, Grasses, Euphorbias). On a slope or rockery, if your garden soil is heavy and clayey, it can be mixed with dwarf or creeping Conifers, creeping Ceanothus or groundcover and landscape roses. Potentillas create absolutely stunning large borders in front of a screen of evergreen shrubs (Abelia, boxwood, holly, Mahonia, Japanese spindle tree) that will take over in winter.