Best Selling Shrub: Potentilla

Twenty five years ago our best selling shrub was the potentilla. When they came on the market, there were no other plants for this area that bloomed all summer. Over the years, potentillas were overtaken by an explosion of newer varieties of other popular plants that have now become the hot sellers. These plants include spireas, barberries, and endless varieties of perennials.

Don’t forget the potentillas.

They are a staple for any yard. Their dainty yellow blooms bring a touch of delight to any landscape. They start blooming in June, and with just 1 trimming mid-summer will bloom until frost. They also bloom in the “off-season” of early July after the spring bloomers have waned and before the fall bloomers begin.

Common complaint solved easily.

One common complaint about potentillas is that they start getting “leggy” or look ragged. This is simply a fertilizer and/or trimming problem. If potentillas are fertilized once or twice a season, and are trimmed twice a year – once mid-summer and again after frost in the fall- they will perform beautifully season after season.

Many varieties available

Potentillas now come in multiple varieties ranging in colors of yellow, white, pink, and tangerine. Sizes vary from 18” to 3’.

If you haven’t included a potentilla in your yard, give them a try.