This week: Shrubby Cinquefoil for Small Spaces
Hello!
If you’re on a quest for a small shrub that thrives in sunny spots, look no further than Shrubby Cinquefoil (Dasiphora fruticosa). This North American native isn’t fussy: it grows in dry and moist soils (but not wet) and isn’t harmed by road salt or extremely cold temperatures. Even better, it tends to stay around three feet tall, with a maximum size of five feet.
Shrubby Cinquefoil’s fibrous root system also keeps soil in place. Because it tolerates poor, dry soil and offers some erosion control, try this shrub on sunny slopes as a ground cover. Its scrubby, rangy look fits in rock gardens and loose, cottage garden styles. Butterflies and bees enjoy this plant, while deer and rabbits do not.
Roots in the Rose Family
The flowers are yellow, around the size of a quarter, and bloom in early summer. If you look closely, you’ll notice the size and structure of the flower is very similar to apple blossoms or the dreaded Multiflora Rose bush. They are all in the same rose (Rosaceae) family. A field identification trick for members of the rose family is that the flowers have five petals, five sepals (the little “leaves” at the base of the bud), and numerous stamens and styles (the pollen-related organs at the center of the flower). All kinds of plants are in the rose family, from apples, blackberries, and strawberries to Ninebark and Mountain Ash.
Elsewhere:
If you missed last week’s talk about using iNaturalist to enter plant phenology data, you can watch the recording on their blog.
Spring is Coming (I Hope!)
While winter isn’t exactly a hotbed of gardening activity, it’s a good time to learn about native plants and prepare for warmer temperatures. Here are a few ways to help this small business get the word out.
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Have a great week,
Julie