Re: Potentilla (was Yellow Perennials/Woodies)

Nancy-- There are quite a few species of Potentilla.   Most potentilla species
are herbaceous perennials which are prostrate in habit, so that sounds like
what you have.  So you probably aren't doing anything wrong.   If this is the
first or second year from seed you might want to let them develop a year or
two more and see if you don't like them better when they are mature.  (A good
rule of thumb with all perennials.)  

Potentilla fruticosa, Bush Cinquefoil, is the shrubby form. I do recommend
that you try it.  I have it in my garden and love it!  It is outstanding, and
definately bushy, with woody stems.  They bloom from June till frost!  There
are lots of cultivars of P. fruticosa available in many colors (pink, white,
yellow, orange), ranging from 1 to 4 feet high and wide.  Some cultivars are
upright and some are prostrate ground covers.  The smaller upright ones make
great borders for a perennial bed. --Janis


In a message dated 98-06-29 02:28:16 EDT, you write:

<< Since you mentioned potentilla...I planted some from seed last year (I 
 don't recall the variety--I have it noted somewhere), and I've been 
 really disappointed with their performance.  I had visions of, as you 
 say, a shrubby plant.  What I have instead is stems.  Each plant grew 3 
 or 4 stems, about 2 1/2 feet long, with a few very small blossoms on the 
 tips.  The rest of the stem is bare, and pretty much grows horizontally.  
 Not at all what I had in mind!
 
 They are planted in a bed along a sidewalk, in fairly poor soil that 
 dries quickly.  Part of the bed is in the sun most of the time, and part 
 of it is shaded in the afternoon.  I haven't tested the soil in that 
 particular bed, but our soil overall tends to be acidic.  Any ideas what 
 I'm doing wrong, or is this just the habit of this plant?
 
 Thanks,
 Nancy Lowe
 Arkansas, zone 7 >>
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