Potentilla recta, the sulphur cinquefoil or rough-fruited cinquefoil, is a species of cinquefoil. It is native to Eurasia but it is present in North America as an introduced species, ranging through almost the entire continent.
Potentilla recta, commonly known as sulfur cinquefoil or five-fingered cinquefoil, is a vigorous, tufted, multi-stemmed, non-rhizomatous, herbaceous perennial of the rose family that typically grows to 12-30” tall. It is native from the Mediterranean and central areas of Europe to central Asia south to Asia Minor and Iran plus in some alpine areas of northern Africa. It was accidentally introduced into North America in the late 1800s with subsequent naturalization occurring in a wide variety of habitats throughout the U.S. and Canada, primarily in disturbed areas including but not limited to roadsides, railroad right of ways, abandoned agricultural fields, meadows, pastures and waste areas. Genus name from Latin potens meaning powerful is in reference to the reputed medicinal properties of the plant. Specific epithet from Latin means upright.
