Comarum palustre

Comarum palustre, commonly known as the Marsh Cinquefoil or Marsh Potentilla, is a perennial species which is now protected in many regions and grows in natural wetlands. It is a pond or bank plant with small, compound, palmate, light green leaves and lovely flowers in a faded purple highlighted with a touch of red, during the summer. This plant adds a natural and wild touch to sunny banks and pond edges.

Comarum palustre belongs to the Rose family. This species can be found from sea level to subalpine zone in North America and Europe, temperate Asia and Japan. It prefers marshes, swamps, lake margins, riverbanks and peat meadows, wet and acidic places. It is a perennial plant with reddish stems that forms a loose and erect clump of about 50 cm (20in) high with a spread of 30 cm (12in). Its leaves are alternate and composed of narrow leaflets with toothed margins, light green on top and bluish green underneath. Flowering occurs between June and August depending on the region. The star-shaped flowers are gathered in clusters of 3 or 4 and measure up to 2.5 cm (1in). The 5 large sepals are a dull purple while the 5 small petals are a brighter red.

Marsh Cinquefoil enjoys the sun. It is a plant for ponds and wet banks, to be planted alongside Marsh Marigolds, Eriophorum angustifolium, Marsh Cranesbill and Loosestrife, for example.