Potentilla fruticosa Creamissima - Shrubby Cinquefoil

Potentilla fruticosa 'Creamissima' is a shrub Potentilla that stands out for its very long flowering period. From spring to the end of summer, it is covered with pretty pale yellow flowers, highlighted by its bright green foliage. Of medium growth, it forms a low shrub that spreads into a cushion twice as wide as it is tall. Easy to grow, very hardy, requiring little maintenance, this shrub can fit anywhere, in borders, slopes, and flower beds, but also in large pots on the terrace. It is a highly rewarding plant, capable of adapting to most situations, provided that the soil is well-drained.

Potentilla fruticosa is a woody shrub that belongs to the large and important Rosaceae family, which gives us with so many ornamental species (Roses obviously, but also Photinia, Cotoneaster, Amelanchier...) as well as most of our temperate climate fruit trees (Pear, Apple, Cherry, Peach, Apricot, Plum...). The Potentilla genus has two main groups, herbaceous plants, like the Spring Cinquefoil found in our countryside, and shrub species.
The 'Creamissima' variety is a French creation from the Minier Nurseries near Angers. It was selected for its perpetual flowering, which extends from May to September, even October in some years. Its pretty single flowers with 5 petals are a delicate pale yellow colour, with a slightly darker yellow stamen at the centre, giving it a certain romantic charm. Its deciduous foliage is bright green, forming a perfect backdrop for its flowers, especially since the flowers fade without detracting from the overall aesthetic.
This shrub Potentilla forms wide cushions of about 1m (3ft) wide and 50cm (20in) tall in about ten years. It is therefore perfect for the edge of a flower bed, or along a pathway, on a small slope, or even in a container on a balcony or patio. It grows in most garden soils, with a neutral or moderately calcareous pH, in full sun or partial shade. Well established, it tolerates drought relatively well, although it will always appreciate some water in summer. However, it requires good drainage, as it does not like waterlogged soil in the winter. That is practically its only requirement, as it is a low maintenance plant, requiring little more than a light annual prune.

In full sun, Potentillas will deliver more intense coloured flowers, while in partial shade, the colour will be slightly less intense. Easy-to-grow plants and beautifully coloured, Potentillas are ideal for brightening up the garden or balcony. With their Scottish rose-like appearance and their very modest requirements, they can be used in multiple ways and planted anywhere: in flower beds, rockeries, borders, low hedges, containers...in most climates and in any well-drained soil. 

Potentilla Creamissima will have a beautiful effect when paired with small colourful shrubs, such as Weigela florida 'Victoria', which with its purple foliage and intense pink flowers will create a stunning leaf-flower contrast. Another possible colourful combination is: Japanese Spirea 'Golden Princess' with its yellow foliage in summer, and red foliage in spring and autumn, as well as its pink flowering. The variegated foliage of Berberis thunbergii 'Natasza' combining red, pink, and green tones before turning orange-red in autumn, will also offer a colourful scene alongside our little Potentilla.