Potentilla fruticosa 'Elizabeth' | 1.3 Litre Pot | 25cm - 30cm Height

Price range: £2.41 through £3.11

Common Names

  • Shrubby Cinquefoil

Potentilla fruticosa ‘Elizabeth’ is a vibrant, low-maintenance shrub, offering cheerful golden-yellow flowers from early summer into autumn. This hardy Shrubby Cinquefoil thrives in UK gardens, attracting pollinators and providing continuous colour with minimal effort.

197 in stock

£3.11
3 – 9 pieces
£2.88 (8% off)
10 – 24 pieces
£2.41 (23% off)
25+ pieces
3
Potentilla fruticosa 'Elizabeth'
£9.33

Potentilla fruticosa ‘Elizabeth’ is a delightful, low-maintenance shrub, gracing UK gardens with abundant golden-yellow blooms from summer right through autumn, offering lasting cheer.

This vigorous deciduous shrub, commonly known as Shrubby Cinquefoil, truly is a garden gem. Potentilla fruticosa ‘Elizabeth’ stands out with its bright, sunny disposition, bringing welcome warmth to any landscape. It adapts easily to various conditions, thus making it a preferred choice for both novice and experienced gardeners alike. Its compact form and exceptionally long flowering season ensure continuous visual interest. This enhances your garden’s appeal for many months; furthermore, this resilient plant offers a vibrant splash of cheerful colour.

Key Features of Potentilla fruticosa ‘Elizabeth’

  • Abundant, cup-shaped, golden-yellow flowers bloom continuously from early summer into autumn.
  • Forms a compact, bushy deciduous shrub with attractive bright green, finely divided foliage.
  • Extremely hardy, readily tolerating a wide range of challenging UK garden conditions.
  • Requires minimal maintenance and generally remains free from pests and diseases.
  • Actively attracts bees, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators, supporting local wildlife.

About Potentilla fruticosa ‘Elizabeth’

The plant we know as Potentilla fruticosa ‘Elizabeth’ is a highly regarded cultivar of the Shrubby Cinquefoil. The genus name ‘Potentilla’ comes from the Latin word ‘potens’, meaning powerful; this refers to the historical medicinal uses of some species. The specific epithet ‘fruticosa’ simply describes its growth habit as shrubby, which is very accurate. ‘Elizabeth’ is a classic selection, carefully chosen for its outstanding flowering performance and robust, easy-care nature. This selection provides consistent beauty year after year.

Golden Blooms and Fresh Foliage

Its primary charm lies in its profusion of cheerful, cup-shaped, buttercup-yellow flowers. These vibrant blooms emerge reliably from late May or early June. They then continue tirelessly until the first hard frosts of autumn, often extending well into October. Each flower offers a simple, open form, which bees find particularly attractive. The small, pinnate leaves are a fresh mid-green colour, providing a neat and subtle backdrop to the bright flowers. As a deciduous shrub, its foliage gracefully sheds in winter, consequently revealing a pleasing twiggy framework that adds subtle interest.

Versatile Garden Uses for Shrubby Cinquefoil

This incredibly versatile plant thrives in many different garden settings. Potentilla fruticosa ‘Elizabeth’ is perfect for creating low, informal hedges, providing excellent structure along garden borders. Additionally, it serves as effective ground cover, suppressing weeds and adding continuous colour. Its compact size also makes it highly suitable for rock gardens and even larger containers, consequently adding a burst of lasting vibrancy. Consider planting Potentilla fruticosa ‘Elizabeth’ in groups; this creates a stunning mass display that will brighten any dull corner of your outdoor space. It establishes easily and provides reliable beauty.

Pruning and Wildlife Benefits

Shrubby Cinquefoil generally requires minimal care to flourish. You can prune it lightly in late winter or early spring to maintain its desired shape. Also, remove any older, less productive stems at this time. This simple task encourages a healthy flush of new growth and, importantly, ensures more abundant flowers. The open, accessible flowers of Potentilla fruticosa ‘Elizabeth’ are a true magnet for local wildlife. Bees, butterflies, and other essential pollinators actively visit the blossoms, thus making it an excellent choice for a wildlife-friendly garden. This actively supports local ecosystems and biodiversity.

Max Height 0.80 at maturity
Max Spread 1.20 at maturity
Growth Rate Average
Average growth
Position
Full Sun Partial Sun
Soil Type
Loam Sandy Chalk
H7 H7 – Very hardy

Hardy in the harshest UK conditions and below. Suitable for mountain regions.

−25°C +15°C
Typical minimum: Below -20°C

Care Notes

Water well after planting until established, then Potentilla fruticosa 'Elizabeth' is quite drought-tolerant. Prune lightly in late winter or early spring to maintain its shape and encourage new growth; remove any dead or weak stems. Apply a general-purpose fertiliser and mulch in spring to support healthy development. No significant pest or disease issues are common.

Important Note

This plant is deciduous so it will lose all of its leaves in the autumn and get fresh new foliage each spring.