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Potentilla pusilla

Table of Contents

Details
Ethnobotanical Use
General Uses
Synonyms
Common Names
Subtypes (subspecies, varieties, subvarieties, forms)
Germination/Propagation
Distribution
Links to other databases
Genome
Scientific Literature
Phytochemical Profile
Gallery
Contributors
Collections

Details Top

Internal ID UUID644040cf58a65274157026
Scientific name Potentilla pusilla
Authority Host
First published in Fl. Austriaca 2: 39 (1831)

Ethnobotanical Use Top

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General Uses Top

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Common products:
Live potted plants, root cuttings, and seed trays of Potentilla pusilla are sold by nurseries and horticultural suppliers. The species is marketed as a compact, mat‑forming perennial for rock gardens, alpine plantings, xeriscapes, and low‑maintenance groundcovers. It is used in landscaped rockeries, dry stone walls, green roofs, and container arrangements. Occasionally, selected cultivars are offered for enhanced flower colour (e.g., bright yellow) or for more vigorous growth, but the species itself remains the primary commercial product.

Properties relevant to use:
The plant exhibits a prostrate growth habit, typically 5–10 cm in height, with creeping stems that form dense mats. Leaves are small, trifoliate, and bear a silvery‑white hairy underside that provides drought tolerance. Flowering occurs in early to mid‑summer, producing yellow to cream‑coloured blossoms that attract pollinators. These traits make the species suitable for erosion control on shallow soils, for filling gaps between larger rockwork, and for planting in xeric sites. The plant is hardy in USDA zones 4–7, tolerates full sun to partial shade, and prefers well‑drained, low‑nutrient soils with a pH range of approximately 5.5–7.5. Propagation is primarily by seed or division, enabling consistent supply from cultivated stock. Its low nutrient demand and modest water requirements contribute to its low‑maintenance profile.

Standards and regulation:
No specific product standards exist for Potentilla pusilla in major horticultural or agricultural codes; it is treated as a standard ornamental nursery stock. The sale of live plants is subject to general plant health regulations, such as the EU Plant Health Directive for imports, and to national nursery compliance standards for labeling, traceability, and pest management. No additional certification or labeling beyond standard nursery practices is required.

Sustainability and sourcing:
The majority of commercial material is propagated in commercial nurseries, reducing pressure on wild populations. Wild collection is minimal, and most suppliers source from cultivated mother plants to preserve genetic integrity. The species is not listed under CITES or other international conservation agreements. Sustainable practices recommended include purchasing certified nursery‑grown stock, avoiding collection from protected habitats, and preferring locally sourced material to minimize transport emissions. Use of organic propagation methods is encouraged where available.

Synonyms Top

Scientific name Authority First published in
Potentilla gaudinii Gremli Excursionsfl. Schweiz : 171 (1874)
Potentilla glandulifera Kras. ex Nyman ; 1869 169 1869
Potentilla puberula Krasan Oesterr. Bot. Z. 17: 304 (1867)
Potentilla verna subsp. puberula (Krašan) Hegi Illustrierte Flora von Mittel-Europa ; 1906 879 1922
Potentilla abbreviata Zimmeter Jahresber. K. K. Staats-Ober-Realschule Steyr 14: 19 (1884)
Potentilla murrii Zimmeter Jahresber. K. K. Staats-Ober-Realschule Steyr 14: 21 (1884)
Potentilla haematosticta Goiran Nuovo Giorn. Bot. Ital. 21: 270 (1889)
Potentilla glandulosa Kras. Oesterr. Bot. Z. 17: 303. 1867
Potentilla alberti Zimmeter Progr. K. K. Oberrealschule Insbr. 1888-1889: 33 (1889)
Potentilla monticola Zimmeter Progr. K. K. Oberrealschule Insbr. 1888-1889: 31 (1889)
Potentilla gaudinii var. virescens Th.Wolf Potentillen-Studien ; 1901 50 1903
Potentilla longifrons Borbás Oesterr. Bot. Z. 37: 404. 1887
Potentilla lancifolia Waisb. Oesterr. Bot. Z. 47: 7 (1897)
Potentilla tiroliensis Zimm. ex A.Kern. Sched. Fl. Exsicc. iii. 22.
Potentilla vindobonensis Zimm. ex A.Kern. Sched. Fl. Exsicc. iii. 23.
Potentilla longifolia Borbás ex Zimmeter Schedae ad Floram exsiccatam austro-hungaricam ; 1881 29, no.835 1884
Potentilla tirolensis Zimm. ex Nyman Consp. Fl. Eur. Suppl. 2(1): 362, sphalm. 1889 [1-15 Dec 1889]
Potentilla bruginoensis Evers Verh. K. K. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Wien 46: 57 (1896)
Potentilla mezzocoronae Evers Verh. K. K. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Wien 46: 57 (1896)
Potentilla pari Evers Verh. K. K. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Wien 46: 57 (1896)
Potentilla vasonis Evers Verh. K. K. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Wien 46: 57 (1896)
Potentilla viscida Evers Verh. K. K. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Wien 46: 58 (1896)
Potentilla ponale Evers Verh. K. K. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Wien 46: 59 (1896)
Potentilla noarnae Evers Verh. K. K. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Wien 46: 58 (1896)
Potentilla rivae Evers Verh. K. K. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Wien 46: 58 (1896)
Potentilla loppiensis Evers Verh. K. K. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Wien 46: 59 (1896)
Potentilla crantzii var. hirta (Lange) Malte Rhodora 36: 173 (1934)
Potentilla flabellifolia var. hirta (Lange) B.Boivin Naturaliste Canad. 93: 435 (1966)
Potentilla gaudinii var. longifolia (Borbás ex Zimmeter) Th.Wolf Potentillen-Studien ; 1901 49 1903
Potentilla gaudinii var. polytricha (Jord. ex Loret & Barrandon) Th.Wolf ; 1908 615 1908
Potentilla viridis (Neilr.) Fritsch Excursionsfl. Oesterreich 295. 1897
Potentilla verna var. viridis Neilr. Fl. Nied.-Oesterr 2: 911. 1859
Potentilla verna var. neumanniana (Rchb.) Th.Wolf Potentillen-Studien ; 1901 75 1901
Potentilla verna subsp. longifrons (Borbás) Focke Synopsis der deutschen und schweizer Flora ; 1892 816 1892
Potentilla cinerea Gaudin Flora helvetica ; 1828 399 1828
Potentilla oenipontana Murr ex Th.Wolf Potentillen-Stud. 2: 50 (1903)
Potentilla incana var. gaudinii (Gremli) Burnat & Briq. Flore des Alpes maritimes ; 1892 258 1896
Potentilla cinerea subsp. gaudinii (Gremli) P.Fourn. Les quatre flores de la France ; 1934 505 1936
Potentilla opaca var. neumanniana (Rchb.) Nyman Conspectus florae europaeae ; 1878 226 1878
Potentilla opaca var. longifolia Borbás ex Zimmeter Schedae ad Floram exsiccatam austro-hungaricam ; 1881 29, no.835 1884
Potentilla glandulifera subsp. gaudinii (Gremli) Hayek Flora von Steiermark ; 1908 857 1909
Potentilla glandulifera subsp. virescens (Th.Wolf) Hayek Flora von Steiermark ; 1908 858 1909
Potentilla bondonis Evers ; 1896 58 1896
Potentilla prechtelsbaueri Poeverl. ; 1898 236 1898
Potentilla ronchii Evers ; 1896 59 1896
Potentilla dubiosa Evers ; 1896 59 1896
Potentilla germadensis Evers ex Th.Wolf ; 1908 614 1908
Potentilla pusilla var. lancifolia (Waisb.) Soó Catalogus Florae Austriae ; 1956 281 1958
Potentilla pusilla var. longifolia (Borbás ex Zimmeter) Mayer ex Soó Catalogus Florae Austriae ; 1956 281 1958
Potentilla pusilla var. viridis (Neilr.) Mayer ex Soó Catalogus Florae Austriae ; 1956 281 1958
Potentilla verna var. astelligera (F.Saut.) Reiter ; 1953 4 1953
Potentilla neumanniana Rchb. Fl. Germ. Excurs. 2: 592 (1832)
Potentilla gelmiana Siegfr. ex Th.Wolf Biblioth. Bot. 16(71): 611 (1908)
Potentilla parii Evers Atlas Florae Europaeae 13 (Rosaceae, Spiraea to Fragaria, excl. Rubus) ; 2004 246 2004
Potentilla ginsiensis Waisb. Phan. Köszeg : 63 (1891)
Potentilla glandulifera var. virescens (Th.Wolf) Gajić Fl. SR Srbije 4: 110 (1972)
Potentilla gaudinii prol. sarajevensis (K.Malý) K.Malý Syn. Mitteleur. Fl. 6(1): 818 (1905)
Potentilla gaudinii prol. typica Th.Wolf Syn. Mitteleur. Fl. 6(1): 816 (1905)
Potentilla tabernaemontani prol. neumanniana (Rchb.) Th.Wolf Syn. Mitteleur. Fl. 6(1): 812 (1905)
Potentilla gaudinii prol. longifolia (Th.Wolf) Th.Wolf Syn. Mitteleur. Fl. 6(1): 816 (1905)
Potentilla gaudinii prol. virescens (Th.Wolf) Th.Wolf Syn. Mitteleur. Fl. 6(1): 817 (1905)
Potentilla bolzanensis var. astelligera F.Saut. Oesterr. Bot. Z. 39: 212 (1889)
Potentilla bolzanensis var. latifolia F.Saut. Oesterr. Bot. Z. 39: 213 (1889)
Potentilla bolzanensis var. prorepens F.Saut. Oesterr. Bot. Z. 39: 213 (1889)
Potentilla bolzanensis var. umbrosa F.Saut. Oesterr. Bot. Z. 39: 213 (1889)
Potentilla gaudinii f. benacensis Zimmeter ex Th.Wolf Potentillen-Stud. 2: 38, 50 (1903)
Potentilla gaudinii f. eglandulosa Th.Wolf Potentillen-Stud. 2: 50 (1903)
Potentilla gaudinii f. genuina Posp. Fl. Oesterr. Küstenl. 2(1): 256 (1898)
Potentilla gaudinii var. germadensis Posp. Fl. Oesterr. Küstenl. 2(1): 256 (1898)
Potentilla gaudinii f. glandulosa Th.Wolf Potentillen-Stud. 2: 50 (1903)
Potentilla gaudinii subvar. glandulosissima Th.Wolf Syn. Mitteleur. Fl. 6(1): 818 (1905)
Potentilla gaudinii f. grandiflora Th.Wolf Potentillen-Stud. 2: 50 (1903)
Potentilla gaudinii var. grisancensis Beyer Wiss. Beil. Programm Andreas-Realgymn. 93: 17 (1891)
Potentilla gaudinii f. incisa Posp. Fl. Oesterr. Küstenl. 2(1): 256 (1898)
Potentilla gaudinii f. murriana Th.Wolf Potentillen-Stud. 2: 51 (1903)
Potentilla gaudinii f. nana Th.Wolf Biblioth. Bot. 16(71): 614 (1908)
Potentilla gaudinii f. parceglandulosa Th.Wolf Biblioth. Bot. 16(71): 610 (1908)
Potentilla gaudinii f. parviflora Th.Wolf Potentillen-Stud. 2: 50 (1903)
Potentilla gaudinii f. pilosior Th.Wolf Biblioth. Bot. 16(71): 612 (1908)
Potentilla gaudinii f. platypetala Th.Wolf Potentillen-Stud. 2: 50 (1903)
Potentilla gaudinii f. stenopetala Th.Wolf Potentillen-Stud. 2: 50 (1903)
Potentilla glandulifera f. tiroliensis Hayek Deutsche Bot. Monatsschr. 9: 23 (1891)
Potentilla glandulifera var. viscidula Waisb. Oesterr. Bot. Z. 45: 145 (1895)
Potentilla opaca f. pusilla Vocke ex Zimmeter Jahresber. K. K. Staats-Ober-Realschule Steyr 14: 16 (1884)
Potentilla tabernaemontani var. boosiana K.Malý Verh. K. K. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Wien 54: 202 (1904)
Potentilla tabernaemontani f. sarajevensis K.Malý Verh. K. K. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Wien 54: 201 (1904)
Potentilla tiroliensis f. aprica Huter ex Th.Wolf Potentillen-Stud. 2: 49 (1903)
Potentilla acaulis subsp. pusilla (Host) Guin. Fl. Fr. 5: 1657 (1984)
Potentilla gaudinii subvar. abbreviata (Zimmeter) Th.Wolf Syn. Mitteleur. Fl. 6(1): 816 (1905)
Potentilla gaudinii subvar. aprica (Huter ex Th.Wolf) Th.Wolf Syn. Mitteleur. Fl. 6(1): 817 (1905)
Potentilla gaudinii f. astelligera (F.Saut.) Th.Wolf Biblioth. Bot. 16(71): 612 (1908)
Potentilla gaudinii var. boosiana (K.Malý) K.Malý Syn. Mitteleur. Fl. 6(1): 818 (1905)
Potentilla gaudinii f. haematosticta (Goiran) Th.Wolf Biblioth. Bot. 16(71): 613 (1908)
Potentilla gaudinii f. latifolia (F.Saut.) Th.Wolf Biblioth. Bot. 16(71): 614 (1908)
Potentilla gaudinii subvar. murrii (Zimmeter) Th.Wolf Syn. Mitteleur. Fl. 6(1): 818 (1905)
Potentilla gaudinii f. prorepens (F.Saut.) Th.Wolf Biblioth. Bot. 16(71): 614 (1908)
Potentilla gaudinii var. tirolensis (Zimmeter) Schinz & R.Keller Fl. Schweiz : 248 (1900)
Potentilla gaudinii f. umbrosa (F.Saut.) Th.Wolf Biblioth. Bot. 16(71): 614 (1908)
Potentilla glandulifera var. lancifolia (Waisb.) Hayek Fl. Steiermark 1: 858 (1909)
Potentilla glandulifera var. longifolia (Borbás ex Zimmeter) Hayek Fl. Steiermark 1: 858 (1909)
Potentilla opaca f. longifrons (Borbás) Beck Fl. Nieder-Österreich 2: 758 (1892)
Potentilla opaca var. vindobonensis (Zimmeter) Beck Fl. Nieder-Österreich 2: 758 (1892)
Potentilla puberula var. viridis (Neilr.) Bech. Denkschr. Schweiz. Naturf. Ges. 81: 240 (1956)
Potentilla rubens var. pusilla (Vocke ex Zimmeter) Th.Wolf Syn. Mitteleur. Fl. 6(1): 802 (1905)
Potentilla tabernaemontani unranked longifrons (Borbás) A.F.Schwarz Fl. Nürnberg.-Erlangen 2: 253 (1897)
Potentilla tabernaemontani subvar. pusilla (Host) Th.Wolf Syn. Mitteleur. Fl. 6(1): 808 (1905)
Potentilla verna var. gaudinii (Gremli) Fiori Fl. Anal. Italia 1: 572 (1898)
Potentilla verna var. pusilla (Host) W.D.J.Koch Syn. Fl. Germ. Helv. : 217 (1836)
Potentilla verna f. glandulifera (Krašan ex A.Kern.) Bolzon Bull. Soc. Bot. Ital. 1904: 34 (1904)
Potentilla cinerea var. gaudinii (Gremli) Rouy & E.G.Camus Fl. France 6: 209 (1900)
Potentilla gaudinii var. benacensis (Zimmeter ex Th.Wolf) Th.Wolf Syn. Mitteleur. Fl. 6(1): 817 (1905)
Potentilla gaudinii subvar. eglandulosa (Th.Wolf) Th.Wolf Syn. Mitteleur. Fl. 6(1): 817 (1905)
Potentilla gaudinii f. glandulosissima (Th.Wolf) Th.Wolf Biblioth. Bot. 16(71): 610 (1908)
Potentilla gaudinii subvar. grandiflora (Th.Wolf) Th.Wolf Syn. Mitteleur. Fl. 6(1): 818 (1905)
Potentilla gaudinii var. longifolia Th.Wolf Potentillen-Stud. 2: 49 (1903)
Potentilla gaudinii subvar. parviflora (Th.Wolf) Th.Wolf Syn. Mitteleur. Fl. 6(1): 818 (1905)
Potentilla gaudinii subvar. stenopetala (Th.Wolf) Th.Wolf Syn. Mitteleur. Fl. 6(1): 818 (1905)
Potentilla gaudinii var. typica Posp. Fl. Oesterr. Küstenl. 2(1): 256 (1898)
Potentilla ginsiensis Woł. ex T.Durand & B.D.Jacks. Index Kew. , Suppl. 1: 344 (1906)
Potentilla glandulifera Krašan ex A.Kern. Oesterr. Bot. Z. 19: 169 (1869)
Potentilla opaca unranked neumanniana (Rchb.) Wünsche Excurs.-Fl. Sachsen : 367 (1875)
Potentilla pusilla var. longifolia (Borbás ex Zimmeter) J.C.Mayer ex Soó Cat. Fl. Austr., I. Pteridophyt. & Anthophyt. 1(2): 281 (1958)
Potentilla pusilla var. viridis (Neilr.) J.C.Mayer ex Soó Cat. Fl. Austr., I. Pteridophyt. & Anthophyt. 1(2): 281 (1958)
Potentilla tiroliensis Zimmeter Sched. Fl. Exs. Austro-Hung. 3: 22 (1884)
Potentilla verna f. pusilla (Host) Th.Wolf Biblioth. Bot. 16(71): 601 (1908)
Potentilla vindobonensis Zimmeter Sched. Fl. Exs. Austro-Hung. 3: 23 (1884)
Potentilla gaudinii var. boosiana (K.Malý) K.Malý Syn. Mitteleur. Fl. 6(1): 819 (1905)
Potentilla gaudinii f. eglandulosa Th.Wolf Biblioth. Bot. 16(71): 609 (1908)

Common names Top

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Language Common/alternative name
English spring cinquefoil
Catalan potentil·la vernal
Czech mochna jarní
Welsh pumnalen y gwanwyn
Danish vår-potentil
German sternhaariges frühlings-fingerkraut
German frühlingsfingerkraut
German frühlings-fingerkraut
Estonian kevadmaran
Finnish sakarahanhikki
Finnish pikkuhanhikki
French potentille printanière
Upper Sorbian nalětni porstnik
Hungarian tavaszi pimpó
Dutch voorjaarsganzerik
Polish pięciornik wiosenny
Slovak nátržník neumannov
Swedish småfingerört
Chinese 春委陵菜

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

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Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

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Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

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Forms (abbr. f.) Top

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Germination/Propagation Top

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Sow seeds directly at 4°C.
Expose seeds to natural outdoor winter conditions for 3 months, then gradually increase light and temperature in the spring.

Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
  • Europe
    • Eastern Europe
      • Ukraine
    • Middle Europe
      • Austria
      • Czechoslovakia
      • Germany
      • Hungary
      • Poland
      • Switzerland
    • Southeastern Europe
      • Albania
      • Italy
      • Romania
      • Yugoslavia
    • Southwestern Europe
      • France

Links to other databases Top

Suggest others/fix!
Database ID/link to page
World Flora Online wfo-0001018785
Flora of Italy 2052
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:728818-1
The Plant List rjp-9643
Open Tree Of Life 286059
Observations.org 140446
NCBI Taxonomy 667278
IPNI 728818-1
iNaturalist 83473
GBIF 5365778
EPPO PTLPU
EOL 414166
Elurikkus 528895
Canadensys 21812
USDA Plants PONE20
Tropicos 27800310
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:728574-1
The Plant List rjp-253
Missouri Botanical Garden 286392
Observations.org 913378
IPNI 728574-1
GBIF 5365332
Freebase /m/09ggvb_
EPPO PTLNM
EOL 629593
Elurikkus 6553
USDA GRIN 409459
Wikipedia Potentilla_pusilla
Open Tree Of Life 880109

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.

Scientific Literature Top

Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
Title Authors Publication Released IDs
Geographical Parthenogenesis in Alpine and Arctic Plants Hörandl E Plants (Basel) 13-Feb-2023
PMCID:PMC9959270
doi:10.3390/plants12040844
PMID:36840192
Life in the desert: The impact of geographic and environmental gradients on genetic diversity and population structure of Ivesia webberi Borokini IT, Klingler KB, Peacock MM Ecol Evol 23-Nov-2021
PMCID:PMC8668734
doi:10.1002/ece3.8389
PMID:34938528
The morphometrics of autopolyploidy: insignificant differentiation among sexual–apomictic cytotypes Bigl K, Paule J, Dobeš C AoB Plants 04-Jun-2019
PMCID:PMC6548344
doi:10.1093/aobpla/plz028
PMID:31198530
Sexual intraspecific recombination but not de novo origin governs the genesis of new apomictic genotypes in Potentilla puberula (Rosaceae) Nardi FD, Dobeš C, Müller D, Grasegger T, Myllynen T, Alonso-Marcos H, Tribsch A Taxon 01-Dec-2018
PMCID:PMC6382066
PMID:30799883
Pollen precedence in sexual Potentilla puberula and its role as a protective reproductive barrier against apomictic cytotypes Alonso-Marcos H, Hülber K, Myllynen T, Rodríguez PP, Dobeš C Taxon 01-Dec-2018
PMCID:PMC6368848
doi:10.12705/676.9
PMID:30745710
Asymmetric reproductive interference: The consequences of cross‐pollination on reproductive success in sexual–apomictic populations of Potentilla puberula (Rosaceae) Dobeš C, Scheffknecht S, Fenko Y, Prohaska D, Sykora C, Hülber K Ecol Evol 28-Nov-2017
PMCID:PMC5756837
doi:10.1002/ece3.3684
PMID:29321878
Experimental evidence for the immediate impact of fertilization and irrigation upon the plant and invertebrate communities of mountain grasslands Andrey A, Humbert JY, Pernollet C, Arlettaz R Ecol Evol 28-May-2014
PMCID:PMC4203302
doi:10.1002/ece3.1118
PMID:25360290
Implications of hybridisation and cytotypic differentiation in speciation assessed by AFLP and plastid haplotypes - a case study of Potentilla alpicola La Soie Paule J, Scherbantin A, Dobeš C BMC Evol Biol 01-Aug-2012
PMCID:PMC3433326
doi:10.1186/1471-2148-12-132
PMID:22852761

Phytochemical Profile Top

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Gallery Top

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Collections Top

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