Dasiphora fruticosa
Shrubby cinquefoil
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Family: Rosaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Dasiphora fruticosa (Shrubby cinquefoil) is a native California shrub in the Rosaceae family, recognized by Circumboreal species reaching its southern range limit in California's high mountains, isolated from other Dasiphora species.
Shrubby cinquefoil is a California native shrub found in the Klamath Ranges, northern California Ranges, Sierra Nevada, Warner Mountains, and White and Inyo Mountains in alpine meadows and rocky habitats at elevations of 2,000 to 3,600 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces delicate yellow flowers 5 to 10 millimeters wide, with petals arranged singly or in small clusters at the end of twigs. Growing as a compact shrub less than one meter tall, it forms dense, low-growing clusters with slender, branching stems. Its distinctive leaves are composed of 4 to 6 narrow, linear to elliptic leaflets, each 5 to 20 millimeters long, with the upper pair of leaflets extending down the stem. The small fruits measure approximately 1.5 millimeters long, contributing to the plant's delicate and intricate appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Circumboreal species reaching its southern range limit in California's high mountains, isolated from other Dasiphora species
Habitat and range
Habitat: Meadows, rocks
Elevation: 2000-3600 m
California counties: Mono, Modoc, Alpine, Lassen, Madera, Mariposa, Nevada, Placer, Tulare, Tuolumne, El Dorado, Fresno, Inyo, Siskiyou, Trinity
Outside California: circumboreal
Bloom period
Dasiphora fruticosa blooms Jun-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Potentilla: Dasiphora is a woody shrub; Potentilla species are herbaceous perennials.; vs Drymocallis: Dasiphora is shrubby with yellow flowers; Drymocallis is herbaceous with white to cream flowers.; vs Tagetes: Dasiphora has 5-petaled rose-type flowers; Tagetes has many-petaled daisy-type flower heads.; vs Fallugia: Dasiphora has yellow flowers and smooth leaves; Fallugia has white flowers and rusty-scaled leaves.; vs Rosa: Dasiphora has yellow flowers; Rosa has white to pink flowers (rarely yellow).
Frequently asked questions
Is Dasiphora fruticosa native to California?
Yes. Dasiphora fruticosa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Dasiphora fruticosa bloom?
Dasiphora fruticosa blooms Jun-Sep.
Where in California does Dasiphora fruticosa grow?
Dasiphora fruticosa occurs in Mono, Modoc, Alpine, Lassen, Madera, Mariposa, Nevada, Placer and other counties, at elevations of 2000-3600 m.
What plant family does Dasiphora fruticosa belong to?
Dasiphora fruticosa is in the Rosaceae family, genus Dasiphora.
What habitat does Dasiphora fruticosa grow in?
Dasiphora fruticosa grows in Meadows, rocks.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.