Prairie Cinquefoil (Potentilla arguta)

Also known as Tall Cinquefoil, Prairie Cinquefoil, Potentilla arguta, or Drymocallis arguta, this resilient native perennial carries a tangle of names thanks to shifting botanical classifications over the years. Once grouped under Potentilla for its five-petaled blooms, it was later reassigned to the Drymocallis genus after closer genetic study—though most growers and restoration projects still use the older name. Found across much of the tallgrass prairie and open meadows of North America, it grows 2–3 feet tall and produces clusters of cream-white flowers in early to mid-summer. The plant thrives in dry to moderately moist, well-drained soils and full sun to partial shade, making it a dependable addition to native gardens, prairie restorations, and pollinator seed mixes.

 

Color: Cream-White
Height: 24–36 inches
Type: Perennial
Bloom Period: Summer
Sun: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Moisture: Dry to Moderate
Seeds per Pound: 3,680,000
Seeding Rate: 1 oz. covers 200 sq. ft. | 13 lbs. per acre

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