Creeping Cinquefoil - Potentilla reptans

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Description

Low, creeping, invasive plant with long trailing shoots that root at the nodes. Leaves with 5 or 7 leaflets, oblong and toothed. Flowers yellow, 17 to 25 mm, solitary with 5 petals.

Similar Species

several other Potentilla have similar leaves and flowers

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Waste ground, bare places, roadsides.

When to see it

June to September.

Life History

Perennial.

UK Status

Very common throughout Britain.

VC55 Status

Very common in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 599 of the 617 tetrads.

  • CAPochin
    GUCanal
    28 June 2022
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote
    26 September 2013
  • Mark Skevington
    Huncote Embankment
    14 June 2012
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote
    03 June 2007
  • Barbara Cooper
    Long Clawson
    02 August 2020
  • David Nicholls
    New Lount
    09 June 2011
  • Graham Calow
    Ullesthorpe Stewardship Farm
    13 July 2016
    growing as a trailing plant
  • Graham Calow
    Road to Hobbs Hayes Farm, Sapcote
    26 May 2016

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species data profile ?

Species profile

Common names
Creeping Cinquefoil
Species group:
Wildflowers
Kingdom:
Plantae
Order:
Rosales
Family:
Rosaceae
Records on NatureSpot:
383
First record:
01/07/1998 (John Mousley)
Last record:
17/04/2024 (Smith, Peter)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.

In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.

Latest images

Latest records

  • Graham Calow
    Cambridge Road, Whetstone
    15 May 2016
  • David Nicholls
    New Lount
    09 June 2011
  • Ron.stevens
    Broughton Astley
    15 June 2011
  • David Nicholls
    Watermead Country Park
    30 November 2009
  • David Nicholls
    Cloud Wood
    24 June 2011
  • David Nicholls
    Ratby Disused Railway
    09 July 2011
  • Barbara Cooper
    Holwell Nature Reserve
    20 June 2012
  • Alan Semper
    Harby footpath
    19 June 2012
  • Alan Semper
    Harby footpath
    19 June 2012
  • Alan Semper
    Stonesby Quarry
    26 June 2013
  • Lostash
    Whetstone GCR Footpath
    08 July 2013