Potentilla anserina
Silver weed cinquefoil
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Family: Rosaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Potentilla anserina (Silver weed cinquefoil) is a native California herb in the Rosaceae family, recognized by pinnate leaves with alternating large and small leaflets.
Silver weed cinquefoil is a California native perennial found in coastal and montane habitats. Flowering from April to August, this plant produces yellow flowers approximately 2 to 3 centimeters wide with delicate petals. Growing from creeping stolons with tufted stems, it forms dense low-growing mats up to 30 centimeters tall. Its pinnate leaves have 5 to 10 leaflets per side, each intricately toothed and densely covered in silvery-white hairs, giving the plant a distinctive silvery appearance. The small fruits are dark red-brown and approximately 2 millimeters long, developing after the bright yellow flowers fade.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; pinnate leaves with alternating large and small leaflets
Habitat and range
California counties: San Bernardino, Mendocino, Monterey, Alameda, Tulare, San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, Modoc, San Mateo, Mono, Sierra, Siskiyou, Humboldt, Santa Barbara, Sonoma, San Francisco, Del Norte, Tuolumne, Santa Cruz, Solano
How to tell it apart
vs Drymocallis: Potentilla styles stay thread-thin throughout; Drymocallis styles are swollen in the middle like tiny clubs.; vs Fragaria: Potentilla typically has 5+ leaflets; Fragaria has three leaflets.; vs Argentina: Potentilla leaves are green on both sides; Argentina leaves are silvery-white beneath.; vs Ranunculus: Potentilla has compound leaves with distinct leaflets; Ranunculus typically has lobed or divided leaves.; vs Rubus: Potentilla is herbaceous with dry seed clusters; Rubus is woody-stemmed with compound berry fruits.
Frequently asked questions
Is Potentilla anserina native to California?
Yes. Potentilla anserina is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Potentilla anserina grow?
Potentilla anserina occurs in San Bernardino, Mendocino, Monterey, Alameda, Tulare, San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, Modoc and other counties.
What plant family does Potentilla anserina belong to?
Potentilla anserina is in the Rosaceae family, genus Potentilla.
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.