Potentilla reptans - Creeping cinquefoil - (Rosaceae)

Creeping Cinquefoil is common and widespread throughout the UK and Ireland except in the north of Scotland.

Creeping cinquefoil

This summer flower is often found on cliff tops, on wasteland, beside car parks and on upland slopes where the grass is short and the soil free draining. It spreads mainly by means of rooting runners.

Creeping cinquefoil showing the runners by which this plant propagates

Creeping cinquefoil is one of many similar species found in the UK. It has five flower petals, and typically the flowers are 15 mm across but they can vary considerably.

Tormentil, often found on clifftops as well as in hedgerows, is similar but has four petals, while the five-petalled flowers of Silverweed might possibly cause confusion with creeping cinquefoil. Silverweed is easily distinguished by its leaves, which have many more pairs of leaflets and are silvery, at least on the underside and often on top as well.

The plants on this page were photographed in West Wales in June.