Rosaceae (Potentilla)
Potentilla (tridentata)
Rosaceae
Rose Family
Potentilla
tridentata
Aiton
Three-toothed cinquefoil
POTR7
Of open peaty to sandy ground, dry upland and rocky sites. Full to partial sunlight. Small plant of 3"-6" in height. Flowers white.
plants
seed
Container (plug)
0
Seed is collected by hand from locally native plants within the eastern central Upper Peninsula. Flowers June through July. Seed is harvested from August to October. Seeds held in a calyx on stalks a few inches above the leaves.
Dry seeds for 1-2 weeks in open paper bags or open Rubbermaid-style bins shaking or turning seed heads. Seed is not cleaned. Once seeds have dried begin stratification.
Stratification: mix the seeds with an equal amount of either perlite or vermiculite. Put mixture into a Ziploc-style bag or Rubbermaid-style container. Seal the container and proceed with 1-3 months of moist cold stratification in a cool dry place. Cold store until planted (up to 3 years).
Propagation Environment: Greenhouse film is made of standard U.V. 3HL Clear 6 mil (J.R. Johnson's Greenhouse Supply Inc.) Fans run continuously to circulate the air. Vents open during the summer months to allow for cooling. Container Type: grows best in 24 cell (2"diameter) 14"x8.5"x4" deep flats. Does not do well in deep and narrow plug cells. Sowing Media: ScottsRedi-earth Plug and Seeling Mix. Contains vermiculite, and sphagnum peat moss. Soil is sterile.
Thoroughly moisten the soil with water, mixing in the water with a trowel. Cover the holes in the bottom/sides of the plug tray cells with newspaper so that the soil does not fall out. Fill tray cells with damp soil and press soil down with a spoon. Refill the cell plugs with soil to the top this time not pressing it down. Water the soil in the plug cells again. Sow the seeds by hand at a rate of about 3 seeds in each cell. Do not cover these seeds with soil as they will need light to germinate. Sow year-round due to low variable success rates.
From January until August the greenhouse thermostat is set at 65 degrees F both day and night. Ambient greenhouse temperatures may reach 100 degrees F during the day in the summer. From Sept. through Dec. the thermostat is set at 55 degrees F. During this season ambient greenhouse temperatures may reach 75 degrees F during the day. Soil is kept consistently damp during germination. Water using a fine mist or light hose setting only. Newly planted trays are placed on the south side of the greenhouse. No artificial light is used.
The soil does not need to be consistently moist. The greenhouse holds plants at all stages of growth so the temperature setting stays the same for all plants at all stages of growth. Plant trays are moved to cooler north greenhouse tables. No fertilizers are used.
In early-late spring, mature plants can be moved into a cold frame with a cover of material that diffuses sunlight to prevent scorching of the plants. When danger of frost has passes leave plants outside. Water less frequently.
In the Upper Peninsula, flats are transplanted into the field from late May to early October. Flats that are not planted in the summer remain in the greenhouse for another season.
Has potential as a groundcover in restoration. Individual plants persisting for several years.
Schultz, Jan; Beyer, Patty; Williams, Julie. 2002. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Potentilla tridentata Aiton plants USDA FS - Hiawatha National Forest Marquette, Michigan. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2025/05/14). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.
