Potentilla drummondii
Drummond's cinquefoil
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Family: Rosaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Potentilla drummondii (Drummond's cinquefoil) is a native California herb in the Rosaceae family, recognized by . Tall stature, pinnate leaves with deeply split leaflets, and sparse hairs.
Drummond's cinquefoil is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, and Sierra Nevada Mountains in montane meadows at elevations of 1,100 to 3,000 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces pale yellow to white flowers with petals 7 to 10 millimeters long in compact clusters of 3 to 15 blossoms. Growing with ascending to erect stems 15 to 60 centimeters tall, it forms a compact tuft from a few-branched underground stem. Its pinnate basal leaves have 2 to 4 leaflets on each side, with leaflets 10 to 50 millimeters long and unevenly toothed almost to the midvein. The small brown fruits are approximately 1.5 to 2 millimeters long and nearly smooth.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 15 sympatric species. Tall stature, pinnate leaves with deeply split leaflets, and sparse hairs.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Meadows
Elevation: 1110-3000 m
California counties: Fresno, Alpine, Siskiyou, Del Norte, Humboldt, Tulare, Inyo, Lake, Colusa, Mono, Modoc, Mendocino, Nevada, Madera, Mariposa, Placer, Trinity, Tuolumne, Amador, Butte, Shasta, Tehama, El Dorado
Outside California: to Alaska, Montana
Bloom period
Potentilla drummondii blooms Jun-Aug.
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 drummondii native to California?
Yes. Potentilla drummondii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Potentilla drummondii bloom?
Potentilla drummondii blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Potentilla drummondii grow?
Potentilla drummondii occurs in Fresno, Alpine, Siskiyou, Del Norte, Humboldt, Tulare, Inyo, Lake and other counties, at elevations of 1110-3000 m.
What plant family does Potentilla drummondii belong to?
Potentilla drummondii is in the Rosaceae family, genus Potentilla.
What habitat does Potentilla drummondii grow in?
Potentilla drummondii grows in Meadows.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Potentilla flabellifolia — Fan-foil
- Potentilla glaucophylla var. glaucophylla — Blueleaf cinquefoil
- Potentilla gracilis — Slender cinquefoil
- Potentilla gracilis var. elmeri — Elmer's cinquefoil
- Potentilla gracilis var. fastigiata — Slender cinquefoil
- Potentilla gracilis var. flabelliformis — Cupform leaf cinquefoil
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.