Potentilla fruticosa Limelight - Shrubby Cinquefoil

Potentilla fruticosa 'Limelight' is a variety of shrub Potentilla that is still relatively uncommon in France. It stands out for its remarkably extended flowering period, from May-June to September. Award-winning in England for its performance in the garden, it offers a multitude of small flowers that are quite unusual, with creamy-white cups slightly tinged with silver, warmed by a splash of primrose yellow in the centre. They continuously renew themselves on a very dense bush that seems unaffected by heat or the relative dryness of the soil. Generous and easy to grow in well-drained soil, it can fit anywhere, in flower beds, rock gardens, but also in large pots on the patio.

Potentilla fruticosa is a woody shrub that belongs to the Rosaceae family. The 'Limelight' variety is a deciduous and dense shrub, measuring  about 1m (3ft) in all directions at maturity. The bush has a rounded habit, sometimes wider than it is tall, with slender branches. Its foliage is deciduous and the small size of the leaves, which are divided into narrow leaflets, gives a beautiful lightness to the dark olive green silhouette. A slight white hairiness on the underside of the leaves gives a silky and slightly silver appearance. Its delicate flowers are cup-shaped, 3cm (1in) in diameter, creamy white, slightly touched with pale yellow at the base, and lightly tinged with green, with golden stamens. The abundant flowering starts between May and June and lasts until the first frost, if the autumn is mild. It is more intense at the beginning of summer, then loses some of its vigour during the season, depending on the moisture of the soil.

In full sun, Potentillas will deliver flowers with vibrant colours, while in partial shade, the colours will be slightly less vivid.  Easy-to-grow plants, generously flowering and simply coloured, Potentillas are ideal for brightening up the garden or balcony, effortlessly and permanently. With their Scottish rose-like appearance and their very modest requirements, they can be used in multiple ways and installed anywhere: in flower beds, rock gardens, borders, low hedges, pots...under most climates and in any well-drained soil.

They will look beautiful when paired with Dahlias, Iris germanica, Achilleas, Gaura, Rudbeckias, poppies, nigellas, Centaurea. They will ideally associate with Mediterranean plants (Lavender, Rosemary, Cistus, Fennel, Helychrisum, Teucrium), for a warm and fragrant atmosphere. To create a contemporary scene, they can be paired with plants with a more slender or tousled habit (Phormiums, Grasses, Euphorbias, Crocosmias). On a slope or rockery, where they will be ideally placed if your garden soil is heavy or clay, they can also be associated with dwarf or creeping Conifers, creeping Ceanothus or even groundcover and landscape roses.