Sulfur Cinquefoil

Rough-Fruited Cinquefoil
or Sulfur Cinquefoil
Potentilla recta

Another “introduced species”, this tall flower of pastures, roadsides, and railroads has spread across the entire United States. In some states it is considered a noxious weed.

Sulfur cinquefoil flowers are usually soft yellow, but sometimes they are white. Each of the 5 petals is shaped like a little heart. The distinctive leaves are palmate, with 5 to 7 hairy and strongly toothed leaflets. See the photos below for more detail.

As far as I am concerned, weed or not, this is a beautiful little wildflower!  Bloom time is summer.

3 Comments Add yours

  1. Anne J. Campbell says:

    Cute. Like the heart shaped petals.

  2. birchnature says:

    Thank you! I’d just noticed this flower on a walk around heritage Park two nights ago and wondered what it was. Now I know!

  3. gloria says:

    It’s really lovely, isn’t it? Love the soft yellow!

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