Appearance

Growth form

This hairy perennial sends up clustered, upright or leaning flowering stems about 3–10 in (8–25 cm) tall.

Leaves

Leaves near the ground are pinnate, usually with two to four pairs of toothed leaflets plus one at the tip.

Flowers

The yellow flowers are about 0.4–0.7 in (1–1.7 cm) wide, with five petals that are rounded or slightly notched at the tip.

Fruit

Each flower produces many tiny, dry achenes about 0.04 in (1 mm) across rather than a fleshy berry.

Look-alikes

Indian strawberryPotentilla indica

Indian strawberry (Potentilla indica) has three leaflets and develops a bright red, strawberry-like fruit. Sunny-place cinquefoil usually has five to nine leaflets and makes clusters of tiny dry achenes.

Why they get mixed up · Both are low plants with yellow, five-petaled flowers.

Where it lives

Typical habitats

• Asian meadows
• open woods in its native range
• Asian stream edges

Range

Its native range runs across temperate Asia to northern India and includes Korea and Japan; it is not native to the United States.

Preferred conditions

Across its native range, it grows in grassy or damp places, open woods, mountain meadows, and along streams.

Life cycle

Reproduction

Several flowers are carried together in loose clusters at the tips of the stems.

Name and classification

About the name

Korean and Japanese names are often used for Potentilla fragarioides var. major.

Conservation

IUCN Red List

NENot Evaluated·Not yet assessed