Potentilla bicolor
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Rosaceae
- Genus
- Potentilla
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Height
- 1 m
- Fertility
- self fertile
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Insects
Uses
Edible uses
Root - cooked[4].
- Plant part
- Root
Environment
- Range
- A hybrid of garden origin, P. atrosanguinea x P. argyrophylla.
- Habitat
- Not known in the wild.
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 6+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
Seed - sow early spring or autumn in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. This is a hybrid species and it will not come true from seed. Division in spring. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer.
Cultivation
An easily grown plant, succeeding in a well-drained loam, preferring a position in full sun but tolerating shade[1]. It prefers an alkaline soil but tolerates a slightly acid soil[2]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[3].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202