Potentilla palustris - Marsh Cinquefoil

Family:	Rosaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	0.45
Width:	1.5
Synonyms:	Comarum palustre. L.
Range:	Europe, including Britain, from Iceland south and east to the Pyrenees, temperate Asia and Japan.

Potentilla palustris (Marsh Cinquefoil) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 0.45m and a width of 1.5m . It has a hardness rating of 3.
Marsh Cinquefoil will flower in November to February. The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Insects

Soil Information

Marsh Cinquefoil will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is not necessary for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Marsh Cinquefoil prefers soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Marsh Cinquefoil can grow in semi or areas with no shade.

Marshes, bogs, acid fens and wet heaths[17].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• A bog garden plant

Cultivation Details

Requires a moist to wet soil, preferably on the acid side. A very cold-hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to about -25°c[187]. A rapidly spreading plant, capable of forming clumps several metres across[187]. It is a plant for the wild wet garden[187]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[233].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 1/5
The dried leaves are a tea substitute[177, 183, 257].

• Tea - the various herb teas that can be used in place of tea, plus the genuine article.

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 1/5
The root is astringent. A decoction has been used in the treatment of dysentery and stomach cramps[257].

• Astringent - Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring or autumn in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in spring. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer.

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

A red dye is obtained from the flowers[61]. Tannin is obtained from the root[61].

• Dye - Plants that provide dyes.
• Tannin - An astringent substance obtaied from plants, it is used medicinally, as a dye and mordant, stabilizer in pesticide etc.

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Flora of the British Isles.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Author: Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Rating:
Publisher : A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
Date of Publication : 1962

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

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