Native Plant Alternatives to Potentilla recta (Sulphur Cinquefoil)

Potentilla recta, commonly known as sulphur cinquefoil or rough-fruited cinquefoil, is a species of flowering plant in the rose family native to Eurasia. It has been introduced to other areas worldwide, including North America, where it has become invasive in some regions.

Sulphur cinquefoil is listed in the Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States. It is listed as a noxious weed in a number of states, primarily in the West, Midwest, and Northeast, where it has spread into pastures, rangelands, and other open habitats.

The plant is aggressive and can outcompete native vegetation, reducing plant diversity and degrading wildlife habitat.
Sulphur cinquefoil is a perennial plant with a deep taproot, making it resilient to drought and difficult to remove. Its yellow, five-petaled flowers and distinctive pale green, palmately compound leaves can help identify this invasive plant.

According to the U.S Forest Service, Invasive species have contributed to the decline of 42% of U.S. endangered and threatened species and 18% of U.S. endangered or threatened species. Invasive species compete directly with native species for moisture, sunlight, nutrients, and space. They displace and alter native plant communities, degrade wildlife habitat and water quality, and potentially lead to increased soil erosion.

The federal government has estimated that nearly 25 percent of the 20,000 plant species native to North America are at risk of extinction, many of these through habitat loss. You can help reverse this trend by planting great native plants in your garden.

A plant is considered native if it occurs naturally in a particular region or ecosystem without human introduction. There are many benefits to growing native plants. First, these plants are better adapted to soils, moisture, and weather than exotic plants that evolved in other parts of the world. They need fewer fertilizers and pesticides or use less water. Second, they are unlikely to escape and become invasive, destroying natural habitats. Third, they support wildlife, providing shelter and food for native birds and insects, while exotic plants do not.